Transhipment News

Magnet attracts alumina
It’s official: CSL transhipment operations are taking Australia by storm. Word is spreading throughout the Australian maritime industry of a state of-the-art transhipping facility at Whyalla
that can load cargo into Capesize vessels in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner.

The most recent example occurred on a bright August morning when a party of 10 Traditional Owners from Cape York Peninsula in Northern Queensland visited the CSL-owned-and-operated iron
ore transhipment operation, known as Project Magnet, at Whyalla. The visit had been arranged in conjunction with Cape Alumina Ltd., an emerging bauxite company planning to ship bauxite from
its proposed Pisolite Hills mine starting in 2013. The firsthand experience of proposed shipping operations was an important part of negotiations for an Indigenous Land Use Agreement between
Cape Alumina and Traditional Owners, and a step forward for CSL to secure a contract for transhipment development and operation.

Silver Blanco, spokesperson for the group of Traditional Owners, was overwhelmingly
positive about the operation.

“We couldn’t have imagined how sophisticated and clean this type of barging could
be,” said Blanco. “It’s unbelievable how clean it is with all of the resource transported safely from the port to the floating platform which is a long way out to sea. We were also happy to learn that
the Spencer Gulf (location of the transhipment facility) is an important breeding ground for the giant cuttlefish, which is now a protected species and does not appear to have been adversely impacted from mining and shipping.”

Cape Alumina must meet strict environmental standards in all aspects of its
operation, including transport of the product from the mine site to the vessel holds.
Ian I ves, Director of Transhipment for CSL Australia (CSLA), was pleased with
the outcome of the visit.

“The enthusiasm shown by the Traditional Owners for our Whyalla facility has reassured
Cape Alumina that they are heading down the right path in pursuing CSL trasshipment as a viable option for the Cape York project.”

The high praise given for Project Magnet by both the Traditional Owners and Cape Alumina is a feather in the cap for CSLA’s Transhipment team, as well as the Business Development Group, which is handling the Cape Alumina Project.

Bauxite is the source material for the production of aluminium.