The partnership between Southern Ports and Gold Valley has reached a new milestone, which has been hailed as a “historic first” for the Port of Esperance.
Following the successful departure of MV Sifnos with more than 78,000 tonnes of iron ore signalled the first time Fremantle Port has had two iron ore customers sharing its iron ore circuit assets, including shed space, ship loader and berth.
The successful delivery, storage, loading, and departure of the vessel came after Gold Valley struck a deal with Southern Ports in August to become the Port of Esperance’s second iron ore customer.
“It was a proud moment for everyone at Gold Valley to watch the MV Sifnos load with our Wiluna West iron ore before it heads to China,” said Yuzheng Xie, chairman of Gold Valley.
“Exporting through the Port of Esperance has opened new opportunities for us, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Southern Ports.”
The port started receiving iron ore from Gold Valley in October via a 900-kilometre journey by truck and rail from the Wiluna West mine site to Esperance.
Prior to the shipment, the Port of Esperance’s iron ore circuit was upgraded through a $2.8 million investment from the Western Australian Government.
“Western Australia’s mining industry continues to drive the country’s economy, with our ports playing a critical role in connecting trade to the world,” said David Michael, WA Ports Minister.
“Southern Ports opening its Port of Esperance to a second iron ore customer is another example of how the ports sector is driving economic benefits for the southern regions of our state.”