Wonarah direct shipping ore project

Name of the Project

Wonarah direct shipping ore (DSO) project. Location

Barkly Tableland of the Northern Territory of Australia. Project Owner/s

Avenira. Project Description

A DSO feasibility study completed in October 2023 has demonstrated the strong economics of the project and shown a low technical risk. The project has mineral resources estimated at 66-million tonnes at 30.2% phosphorous pentoxide at a 27% cutoff grade.

The DSO study focuses on the development, extraction and sale of mineral resources from the Arruwurra phosphate mineral body at Wonarah over a 23-month period.

The project will mine readily saleable phosphate rock from an openpit across the Arruwurra phosphate rock deposit at Wonarah. Mineralised domains comprise a main mudstone phosphorite unit with a basal indurated high phosphate (BPH) grade unit. The location of the openpit is designed to reflect the area of the deposit containing the highest amount of material fit for DSO production.

The study envisages a simple openpit mining and crushing operation, with a process flowsheet that does not require wet beneficiating. It aims to produce 836 000 t of saleable phosphate product over the life-of-mine. The mine will produce BPH lumps, which are well suited to the production of yellow phosphorus, BPH fines and direct application phosphate rock.

The mine will use mining contractors to optimise capital efficiency.

Potential Job Creation

Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return

The project has a short payback period of 14 months.

Capital Expenditure

A$11.5-million.

Planned Start/End Date

Not stated.

Latest Developments

None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants

None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information

Avenira, tel +61 8 9264 7000 or email frontdesk@avenira.com.