Total project expence exceeds $20 million
A three-dimensional image of Amex Resources Limited’s Lautoka Port facilities showing large enclosed stockpile shed, covered conveyors and shiploader, transport barge at unloading berth. Photo: AMEX RESOURCES LIMITED
By RACHNA LAL
Amex Resources Limited, involved with the Mba Delta ironsand project, anticipates construction activities for its Lautoka Port to commence in the coming months
This has been confirmed to the Fiji Sun by Amex Resources managing director, Matthew Collard.
“Over the coming months, I am hoping to finalise off-take agreements and start construction,” he said.
The activities will include dredging of the berth pocket to accommodate the large handimax vessels.
Mr Collard said production dredging of the Ba Delta Resource is now projected to commence in September 2014.
“This revised schedule reflects the additional time which was required to resolve the geotechnical issues and allows for construction and delivery of the long lead time items,” he said.
These include bucket wheel dredge and floating processing plant.
Mining lease
Amex Resources’ bankable feasibility study for the Mba Delta ironsand project confirmed the viability of the dredging operation over its planned 20-year life.
The Australian mining company was last year granted a 21-year mining lease to extract ironsands from the Ba River delta by the Government.
Mr Collard said a site office at Lautoka has now been completed to facilitate the upcoming constructions activities.
This, he said, follows the appointment of the senior contractor who will be responsible for successful completion of the marine and upland infrastructure.
Progress this year
Mr Collard said the company this year has been extremely busy finalising detailed design of all aspects of the project and issuing procurement tender packages, with additional expenditure of $8.7 million.
“Our total project expenditure to date now exceeds $20 million,” he said.
Detailed wharf design done
Amex Resources has completed detailed design for the marine wharf.
Mr Collard said they have incorporated a main berth for 60,000 tonne Handimax vessels which will transport the magnetite sand product to China.
Also incorporated is an unloading berth for transport barges which will bring the sand concentrate from the Mba Delta daily.
The company has appointed a structural engineer with extensive local knowledge, having been responsible for the extension of Queens Wharf and reclamation of the Amex port site.
Project funding and support
In December, Amex Resources signed a mandate with Macquarie Bank in Australua for them to provide more than 60 per cent of the project finance required to bring the project into production.
This was subject to satisfactory completion of due diligence studies.
Mr Collar acknowledged the continuing support for the project received from the Government, in particular the assistance from Commissioner Western and Fiji Ports Corporation.
“Our workforce is continuing to grow, and we look forward to providing further employment opportunities as the project progresses,” he said.