Processing operations have officially commenced at the Thunderbird mineral sands project in WA.
Kimberley Mineral Sands has announced that first ore has been processed through the project’s dry mining unit and the wet concentrate plant, with first shipment on track in early 2024.
“The first feed of ore into the dry mining unit and through the wet concentrate plant is a cause for great celebration at Thunderbird as it marks the start of processing operations,” Kimberley Mineral Sands chief executive officer Stuart Pether said.
“A huge amount of work from many different people and organisations has been involved in getting the project to this stage, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported and contributed to our journey to date.”
Commissioning activities at Thunderbird commenced in August of this year. August also saw the tailings storage facility, the wet concentrate plant and the concentrate upgrade plant completed.
Thunderbird is expected to generate an estimated 280 jobs once it hits full production, and will spend up to $750 million with local businesses during its first 20 years of operation.
Kimberley Mineral Sands aims to have a workforce which is 40 per cent Aboriginal, with an annual spend of $10 million per year with Aboriginal businesses by the eighth year of operations.
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