First GREENSTEEL-ready pellets at Whyalla

Back in April, we announced that we had taken a big step forward in our GREENSTEEL transformation journey in Whyalla, Australia, with the start of our magnetite high-quality iron ore expansion.

Now, we’ve reached another major milestone: SIMEC Mining has produced its first high-quality GREENSTEEL-ready pellets in Whyalla, made from local magnetite.

Why is it so significant?

• High-quality magnetite, one of the main iron ores, is a critical resource for GREENSTEEL manufacturing
• Following its success, the next step in SIMEC’s magnetite expansion plan is a feasibility study underway for Stage 2, which is evaluating a new 5Mtpa magnetite concentrate supply chain to supplement the existing Stage 1, 2.5Mtpa facility
• It’s coupled with the successful commissioning of a 400tph demonstration pilot plant to test an innovative technology integral to current and future mining operations

Performance of the plant has exceeded expectations for the debottlenecking process to increase magnetite concentrate production. The process, known as a Dry Low Intensity Magnetic Separation (DLIMS) plant, is designed to reject non-magnetics from a coarse crushed fraction of the feed material, thereby upgrading the quality of feed to the magnetite concentrator. The plant rejected over 20 percent of the feed mass as waste, while still recovering more than 98 percent of magnetics to product.

The life of the mine is estimated to be in excess of 20 years, with the mine producing 7.5 million tonnes per annum of magnetite concentrate, and generating annualised revenue of more than $800 million over that time.

Interim CEO Primary Steel and Mining and Director Industrial Projects Theuns Victor commenting on the project said:

“This grade of magnetite is a key enabler to Whyalla’s GREENSTEEL future, and strengthens its position as a consistent global supplier of premium quality magnetite to support low carbon intensive steelmaking.

When combined with renewables, particularly solar from our Cultana Solar Farm, our port, a skilled workforce, and supportive community and government, we have all the ingredients to create a world leading GREENSTEEL hub at Whyalla and fulfil our CN30 mission”

Theuns Victor, Interim CEO Primary Steel and Mining and Director Industrial Projects 

SIMEC Mining General Manager Magnetite Expansion and Growth Gavin Hobart commenting on the project said:

“Our existing iron-ore operation in Whyalla is home to some of the highest purity and most desirable deposits of magnetite in the world.

The high quality of our ore makes it a critical resource to enable GREENSTEEL manufacturing and this successful pellet production is a significant milestone toward realising our plans.

Stage two of our magnetite expansion project represents a generational opportunity for economic growth in Whyalla.

Once operational, the project is expected to employ more than 1,200 workers and support around 3,500 people in the broader community.”

Gavin Hobart, SIMEC Mining General Manager Magnetite Expansion and Growth

Check out this video about why our magnetite expansion plans are important for our GREENSTEEL journey and read more here.

Well done to the SIMEC Mining team for achieving this milestone!