Atlas Iron pursues Sanjiv expansion

Hancock Prospecting’s Atlas Iron is progressing plans to expand its Sanjiv Ridge iron ore project, with the state’s environmental watchdog confirmed it would review the development of a satellite mine expected to boost production by 10 million tonnes.

Six months after the company’s Sanjiv Ridge project was brought into production, Atlas Iron lodged plans with the Environmental Protection Authority to clear 125 hectares of vegetation at the 246ha site south-east of Port Hedland to support the development of a satellite mine.

The development, known as Sanjiv Ridge Stage 2, would consist of three new pits at its Glen Herring deposit, as well as four waste rock dumps and a four kilometre haul road connecting it to stage 1, where ore will be hauled for processing.

According to documents lodged with the EPA in support of the proposal, the mine is expected to facilitate the production of about 10 million tonnes of iron ore, extending the life of its Sanjiv Ridge project by about 3.5 years.

In a determination published today, EPA chair professor Matthew Tonts found the proposal warranted a detailed assessment to determine the extent of the possible environmental impacts and how they could be managed.

He said further information was required regarding the cumulative impacts of the proposal on the East Pilbara region, including the existing Sanjiv Ridge project and others nearby.

The decision is not appealable.

The project has already been deemed a controlled action and an accredited assessment by the federal government, which reviewed the proposal earlier this year.

The Sanjiv Ridge project was brought into production in February, hauling its first shipment of ore by road to Port Hedland in March.

The project has a mineral resource of 64 million tonnes at 57.32 per cent iron and 29 million tonnes at 57 per cent iron ore reserve.

Atlas Iron was acquired by Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting in 2018.