Australia's first substantially indigenous-owned and operated iron ore mine is set to get a boost from the Morrison government.
Australian Aboriginal Mining Corporation secured the $12.5 million loan from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility to develop its $45 million First Iron project, 80km northwest of Newman, in WA's Pilbara region.
Resources Minister Matt Canavan said the project would create more than 120 new jobs during construction and support about 120 ongoing jobs during its operations.
"As Australia's first substantially indigenous-owned and operated iron ore mine, First Iron will also offer the region's Aboriginal community significant employment opportunities," he said on Thursday.
It will provide iron ore to Fortescue Mining Group's Cloudbreak operations, with the first delivery of ore expected to happen by mid-2020.
The project is expected to run for at least five years, producing between two to three million wet tonnes of iron ore each year.
The NAIF loan will go towards accommodation, a bore field, a crushing plant and a 55km haul road.
Source: Paul Osborne
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