BHP hits halfway mark of South Flank construction

Andrew Mackenzie, BHP chief executive, has affirmed the South Flank iron ore project in the Pilbara, Western Australia is 50 per cent complete.

The multi-billion-dollar venture is on track for initial production in 2021, substituting production from the 80 million tonne a year Yandi mine nearby Newman.

BHP has been handing out numerous contracts at South Flank during this year since work commenced in mid-2018.

It has built a sturdy line up of contractors, comprising Thyssenkrupp (rail mounted stackers and reclaimers supply and installation), Fenner Dunlop (50-kilometre overland belt supply), Primero Group (balance machine works), Clough (ore handling plant construction) and Precast Australia (concrete elements supply).

Komatsu is also deploying 41 automation-ready Komatsu 930E-5 ultra-class haul trucks at South Flank, beginning this month.

“The South Flank iron ore project is 50 per cent complete, with all our major projects on schedule and budget,” Mackenzie, in a BHP quarterly update, said.

“We (also) delivered a solid start to the 2020 financial year through ongoing strong operational performance across our portfolio”.

Full scope overview:

The South Flank project will comprise of the following

• Primary crushing facilities nominally located to the north of the proposed deposits;
• Run of Mine pads;
• Overland conveyors to Mining Area C;
• Coarse Ore Stockpile and Ore Handling Plant infrastructure at Mining Area C;
• Upgrade to the existing stockyards and outflow facilities;
• Duplication of the existing rail loop and addition of a second Train Loadout;
• Advanced mine de-watering in accordance with the mine plan;
• Expansion of the existing Mulla Mulla Accommodation Village;
• Installation of supporting non-process infrastructure (e.g. power lines, access roads) to support the new mining areas; and
• Expansion of existing non-processing infrastructure and industrial facilities to support production.