The Anketell industrial precinct is planned to include a port having more than 350 million mt/y of export capacity, an industrial area of more than 1,400 ha (3,460 acres), and a corridor for transport and services. The port will be serviced by existing towns, especially nearby Karratha.

The port will be built by a private proponent under an agreement with the state government, a statement said. The Department of State Development will lead negotiations on behalf of the government, Dampier Port Authority will manage the new port and infrastructure corridors, and LandCorp will develop the industrial precinct.

Three significant iron ore projects are identified by the government as potential foundation investors in the new precinct: API Management, for its 30-million- to 40-million-mt/y West Pilbara iron ore project; Fortescue Metals, for its 30-millionto 60-million-mt/y Solomon project; and China Metallurgical Group, for its 15-million- mt/y Cape Lambert iron ore project. The government will work with these companies or an infrastructure provider to develop the project, with plans to commence operations by 2015.

“The strength of Western Australia’s iron ore exports and the growth plans of current users are testing the capacity of the existing Pilbara ports,” Barrett said. “In 2008-2009, the Pilbara exported more than 326 million mt of bulk commodities, mainly iron ore. This is forecast to reach more than 530 million mt/y by 2015 and as much as 750 million mt/y by 2020. The Anketell port and industrial precinct will provide opportunities for new exports and processing of iron ore and other minerals.”