EPA gives go-ahead for BHP’s $40 billion expansion of Hedland Port

25 Jan 2012 - Port Planning

• $40 billion expansion project includes additional berthing, hinterland services and storage facilities

• Project will add a further 240 million tonnes to Hedland's iron ore export capacity

Mining giants BHP Billiton (BHP) has been given the conditional approval of its AUS$40 billion Port Hedalnd expansion project by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of West Australia.

The proposed development would include a new five kilometer quay wall for the running of an additional shipping berth, hinterland rail services, and an iron ore handling and stockpile facility on neighboring Finucan Island

When the expansion is completed the Port of Hedland will add a further 240 million tonnes to its export capacity of iron ore, according to Nasdaq News.

Dredging works for the project will involve the removal of around 42 million cubic meters of sediment and is expected to take around four years.

The EPA concluded that the dredging campaign would have only a minimal affect on the regions marine environment, said WA EPA Chairman Paul Vogel.

However, the EPA Chairman said that the agency had noted the complexity of the BHP proposal and has outlined a set of requirements that need to be met to limit the impact of the project on marine activities and habitats.

Port Hedland, a natural deepwater seaport, is the highest tonnage port in the whole of Australia, handling iron ore, natural gas, salt and livestock.