The Western Australian Government has announced its formal support of the expansion of Esperance Port, with State Transport Minister Troy Buswell announcing plans to increase capacity by up to 20 million tonnes per annum in a staged plan.

 

Mr Buswell said the government would embark on a market sounding exercise to identify priate sector interest in expanding the port’s iron ore export capacity. Mr Buswell also announced that discussions with the private sector over their willingness to invest are expected to start early this year.

 

The Minister said the decision to expand capacity from 11 mtpa to about 20 mtpa in the first instance at Esperance Port instead of Kwinana was influenced by a recently completed study into the Yilgarn province’s burgeoning iron ore industry and the fact that $120 million was being spent to upgrade the port’s road and rail access.


“The study showed 11 of the 12 miners preferred Esperance over Kwinana in relation to their individual export needs,” he said.


“The Yilgarn province is a rapidly developing iron ore region and, based on current iron ore prices, has the potential to earn the State up to $150 million a year in royalties which can be invested into schools, hospitals, roads, police and other essential services for the community.

 

The expansion to the port, which currently handles over 200 ships a year, would see new bulk loading and storage facilities.