In March 2009 the Western Australian State Government and Oakajee Port and Rail (OPR) signed an exclusive state development agreement to develop a multi-billion dollar deep-water port at Oakajee and an integrated rail network to service iron ore miners and other port users in the Mid-West.
The project will deliver iron ore from mines in the Mid-West to the new deep-water port at Oakajee, 25km north of Geraldton, via a new 570km rail network.
The port will cater for the world’s largest ore carriers and the railway network will service the growing number of mining projects operating in the region. The result will be an integrated open access, bulk commodity supply chain to transport iron ore from WA’s Mid-West to customers in the Asia-Pacific.
The State Government, through the PTA, will own the rail infrastructure. It has appointed OPR to design, construct, commission and operate the rail network. The organisation will procure all design, construction and operation expertise (including consultants, contractors, subcontractors and railway construction personnel).
OPR is working to its own deadlines to complete feasibility study due for completion in March 2010. To meet this deadline, it must complete on-site technical studies and nominate a preferred rail corridor. Once that corridor is approved by the State, detailed design and construction can proceed.
The PTA will oversee the process as the State’s representative. The PTA will also help OPR to gain approvals, access land for feasibility studies, assist with interagency liaison to gain approvals for rail development, and facilitate the introduction of an Enabling Act into Parliament to provide for the construction of the rail.
OPR was established in September 2007 to pursue a joint venture between Murchison Metals Ltd and Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd, each of which has a 50 per cent economic interest in OPR.
OPR will operate the rail development under a long-term lease.
Construction of the project is scheduled to start in 2011 and should be completed by 2014.
Click here to visit the OPR website.
In March 2009 the Western Australian State Government and Oakajee Port and Rail (OPR) signed an exclusive state development agreement to develop a multi-billion dollar deep-water port at Oakajee and an integrated rail network to service iron ore miners and other port users in the Mid-West.
The project will deliver iron ore from mines in the Mid-West to the new deep-water port at Oakajee, 25km north of Geraldton, via a new 570km rail network.
The port will cater for the world’s largest ore carriers and the railway network will service the growing number of mining projects operating in the region. The result will be an integrated open access, bulk commodity supply chain to transport iron ore from WA’s Mid-West to customers in the Asia-Pacific.
The State Government, through the PTA, will own the rail infrastructure. It has appointed OPR to design, construct, commission and operate the rail network. The organisation will procure all design, construction and operation expertise (including consultants, contractors, subcontractors and railway construction personnel).
OPR is working to its own deadlines to complete feasibility study due for completion in March 2010. To meet this deadline, it must complete on-site technical studies and nominate a preferred rail corridor. Once that corridor is approved by the State, detailed design and construction can proceed.
The PTA will oversee the process as the State’s representative. The PTA will also help OPR to gain approvals, access land for feasibility studies, assist with interagency liaison to gain approvals for rail development, and facilitate the introduction of an Enabling Act into Parliament to provide for the construction of the rail.
OPR was established in September 2007 to pursue a joint venture between Murchison Metals Ltd and Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd, each of which has a 50 per cent economic interest in OPR.
OPR will operate the rail development under a long-term lease.
Construction of the project is scheduled to start in 2011 and should be completed by 2014.
Click here to visit the OPR website.