Rocktree Consulting has announced completion of the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) for a new floating terminal for Metro Mining Limited’s Bauxite Hills Mine in Australia. The miner exports its bauxite to China, the key consumer of bauxite.
The FEED work is a part of an updated Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the Stage 2 expansion of the Bauxite Hills Mine, which is located approximately 95km north of Weipa, Queensland. Metro Mining is working on expanding its bauxite exports from about 3.5 MT to 6 MT per year by 2021.
{alcircleadd}
The optimization of an on-water transhipment facility is a part of the expansion work in order to load bauxite on to larger vessels, increasing transhipment volumes and loading rates. Now Bauxite Hill mine exports bauxite by smaller self-loading bulk carriers.
Rocktree Consulting was appointed in February 2019 to carry out a feasibility study aimed to identify the most cost-effective floating terminal solution for the Bauxite Hill mine. This will reduce the transportation cost by shipping bauxite in bulks. Rocktree has designed a 100m long, 30m wide, 5.5m draught floating terminal design capable of loading up to 3,000t of bauxite per hour.
Daniele Pratolongo, CEO, Rocktree Group, said: “The relationship Rocktree has developed with Metro Mining has enhanced Rocktree’s presence in Australia, a key market for the export of commodities and abundant in opportunities for waterborne logistics requiring Rocktree’s expertise.”
The terminal will have a lightship weight of 5,100 tonne. It will feature a pair of heavy duty four-rope cranes, each operating a scissor-type grab, and a state-of the-art material handling conveyor and stacker system. The terminal will also include an 8,000t buffer storage facility, workshops, accommodation, and power generation units. All systems and machinery are optimized for energy efficiency and according to the safety and environmental regulations set by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and other regulatory bodies.
Responses
