Mineral Resources Limited has announced first iron ore production from the company’s Wonmunna Iron Ore Mine, located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Mineral Resources purchased the Wonmunna operation from the Australian Aboriginal Mining Corporation (AAMC) in September 2020.
The new milestone, achieved less than five months after breaking ground, is in line with the company’s guidance to bring Wonmunna into production this quarter.
Mineral Resources expects Wonmunna to ramp up to the approved 5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) run rate in the June quarter of 2021.
The company notes that there is potential to expand Wonmunna’s output to 10Mtpa upon the successful grant of additional approvals for little additional capital cost.
Ore from Wonmunna will be used to underpin Mineral Resources’ Utah Point Hub iron ore blend, which includes tonnes from Iron Valley and will incorporate production from the proposed Lamb Creek and Wedge mines.
The addition of Wonmunna production will help the company boost output from the Utah Point export facility at Port Hedland towards 14Mtpa by the end of the December 2021 quarter.
Mineral Resources Managing Director, Chris Ellison, said Wonmunna’s rapid and safe development is testimony to the Mineral Resources’ team’s ability to deliver what others thought impossible.
“It is the innovative design of our NextGen crushing plants and the agility of our people who make this happen,” Mr Ellison said.
“Wonmunna’s development was completed on time and within budget. Once we ramp up Wonmunna to full production, the mine will provide permanent employment for 500 men and women.”