A World-Class, Multigenerational Operation
Located 80km south of Karratha on the Pilbara coast, the Mardie Salt Operation and Potash Project is a globally significant development that will be the largest solar salt operation in Australia and the third largest in the world.
Spanning more than 130 square kilometres, in the world’s premier region for large-scale solar salt production, Mardie is designed to produce high-quality industrial salt and a premium fertiliser by-product, sulphate of potash (SOP).
The strategic location and Port of Cape Preston West offer a competitive freight advantage to directly access growing industrial salt demand in key Asian markets.
This multigenerational operation is expected to contribute $4.8 billion to GDP over its 60+ year operating life.
Operational Progress
- First crystalliser train filled and filling of the next train commenced
- Salt precipitation underway, with a closing inventory of 49,000 tonnes at 30 June
- Construction 85 per cent complete
- Steel cutting ceremony in China for the Mardie Spirit transhipment vesse
- Dredging commenced at Mardie Port
- Brine channel and first two lift stations commissioned
- First two crystallisers flooded with high-density brine from pond nine; salt pavement formation commenced
- Concrete installation works commenced at the salt wash plant
- Jetty head and ship loader installation complete; marine package 94 per cent complete
- AustralianSuper converted its Series 1 Convertible Notes into equity, reducing debt by $29.1 million
- All primary Commonwealth and State approvals secured for offshore placement of dredge material
- Crystalliser lining program commenced
- Pond nine filling commenced following Pilbara Ports road works — all nine ponds inundated
- One year of operations celebrated
- Construction of the primary and secondary salt crystallisers complete
- Digital twin fully integrated into production planning
- Pre-KTMS SOP pilot crystallisers commissioned
- Jack-up barge demobilised
- Filling of pond six commenced
- Jetty head completed
- Filling of pond five commenced
- Transfer station 5/6 commissioned
- Commissioning of first crystallisers
- Filling of pond four and eight commenced
- Jetty head piling completed
- Causeway culverts completed
- Pond 8 completed
- Transfer station 3/4 commissioned
- Secondary seawater intake completed
- First cash draw down
- Jetty head piling commenced
- Jack-up barge mobilised
Pond three filling commenced
- Achieved Financial Close of the SFA
- Transfer station 2/3 commissioned
- Pond two filling commenced
- Pond seven completed
- Operations commenced
- Transfer stations 5/6 and 6/7 completed
Jetty reached full 2.4 km length
- Pond six completed
Final Investment Decision approved by board to develop the Mardie Project.
WA Government Environmental Approval received for initial Mardie development
Marine structure package awarded to McConnell Dowell
Commonwealth Government Environmental Approval received for initial Mardie development
Additional tenements acquired to enable project layout optimisation
Secondary approvals received to commence initial Mardie development
Construction begins at Mardie
Construction begins at ponds 1 and 2.
Earthworks commenced for Ponds 3, 4 and 5.
Earthworks commenced for Transfer Station 2/3
400-bed accommodation village and facilities were completed.
David Boshoff appointed as Managing Director
Primary Seawater Intake completed
Construction complete of ponds 1 and 2
Ponds 3-5 design and procurement complete
McConnell Dowell mobilised to Mardie to begin marine package work.
BCI executes offtake term sheet with Itochu
North South Road and Mardie Road reached 70% completion
Mardie cost and design review complete