1384.6 - Statistics - Tasmania, 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 13/09/2002   
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Iron ore is the raw material for the production of iron that is mostly further processed to produce steel. Small tonnages are also used in a variety of applications, including pigment manufacture, coal washeries and cement manufacture.

AUSTRALIAN BULK MINERALS TASMANIAN OPERATIONS - SAVAGE RIVER MINE

High grade iron ores mined at Savage River form part of a mineralised belt west of Waratah, which extends north eastwards to Burnie and out into Bass Strait.

The iron concentrate produced from the Savage River mill is pumped as a slurry through a pipeline 80 km to Port Latta, where it is converted into pellets ready for shipment overseas.

During 1997-98, production of iron (pellets) resumed with the re-opening of the Savage River Mine under new ownership and since then production at the mine has increased, from 820,841 tonnes in 1997-98 to 2,027,324 tonnes in 2000-01.


IRON PELLETS PRODUCED, Tasmania

Production

Year
'000 tonnes

1996-97
809.4
1997-98
820.8
1998-99
1,816.1
1999-2000
2,068.3
2000-01
2,027.3

Source: Mineral Resources Tasmania, Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources.

There were 459 people employed (including administrative staff in Burnie) in 2000-01. Capital expenditure totalled $18.7m.

SAVAGE RIVER MINE - 2000-01

Units

Production
-Iron ore pellets
tonnes
2,027,324
-Iron concentrate
tonnes
38,300
Employment
-Employees
no.
225
-Contractors
no.
234
-Total
no.
459
Capital expenditure
$m
18.7

Source: Mineral Resources, Tasmania, Annual Review 2000-2001.



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