YES chosen for Esperance Port project

The Asciano-led Yilgarn Esperance Solution consortium has won the bid to design, build and operate a new multi-user iron ore facility at Esperance Ports, understood to be worth about $200 million. 

The expansion is expected to almost double the export capacity of the port from about 11 million to 20 million tonnes per annum.

Esperance Port is the deepest facility of its kind in the southern half of Australia, and can accommodate large ships and bigger cargoes.

Yilgarn Esperance Solution, a consortium led by Asciano alongside SKM, ANZ Banking Group, Integrated Project Solutions, Loop Advisory and Marubeni Corporation, won Transport Minister Dean Nalder’s approval over a consortium comprising Qube Bulk and Brookfield Infrastructure, based on a recommendation from the board of the Esperance Port Authority.

“YES has been chosen to design, build and operate the facility as well as provide all project funding and associated costs,” Mr Nalder said.

“The companies which make up YES have a proven track record in developing and operating ports in Australia and internationally.”

Iron ore explorers Cashmere Iron and Cazaly Resources, which intend to export their ore through Esperance Port, welcomed the announcement.

“The development of the multi-user iron ore facility is an essential step in the expansion of the Esperance Port, which will further drive minerals exploration and investment in resource development projects across the Yilgram and southern regions of Western Australia,” Cashmere managing director David Hendrie said

The consortium will now enter into contract negotiations with both the Esperance Port and potential users of the facility.

They will be required to comply with all current environmental licences under which the port operates.