Sheffield Resources has signed an access agreement with the Shire of Derby-West Kimberley over the bulk handling facility at the Derby Wharf for its Thunderbird product in Australia.
Following the agreement, Sheffield has been confirmed as the preferred proponent and gained exclusive access to the bulk handling facility.
Sheffield Resources managing director Bruce McQuitty said: "This binding agreement confirms Sheffield as the preferred proponent for the bulk handling facility at Derby Wharf allowing exclusive access during the definitive feasibility study to complete all work required to submit a development application and to complete terms of a sublease agreement by 30 June 2017."
The company’s 100%-owned Thunderbird Mineral Sands project is located near Derby in Western Australia.
The Derby Wharf was previously used to export up to 500,000tpa of base metal concentrates from Western Metal’s Lennard Shelf operations.
Under the PFS, a fleet of four quad road trains would be used to transport final products in bulk form from the mine site to the Derby Wharf for storage and export.
Bulk ilmenite, zircon and HiTi88 products, which will be offloaded at the port export facility, would be later on conveyed to the ship loader for transhipment through barge.
Sheffield has more than 2,000km² of 100% owned tenure in the Fraser Range region of Western Australia, including the Red Bull located near the Nova Ni-Cu deposit.
Image: Bulk handling facility at the Derby Wharf. Photo: courtesy of Sheffield Resources Limited.