Mining Lease granted to Thunderbird Mineral Sands project in WA

Sheffield Resources’ Thunderbird Mineral Sands project in Western Australia’s Kimberley region has marked another milestone, with the WA Department of Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety granting the Mining Lease for the development.

To begin operations at the Thunderbird project, Sheffield Resources now only requires the environmental approval from the Federal Government.

“...this milestone enables us to deliver on our commitments to Traditional Owners and local communities,” Sheffield Resources Managing Director Bruce McFadzean said.

Just last week, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund (NAIF) has invested $95 million as financial aid for the project.

Sheffield Resources is anticipating first production at the Thunderbird Mineral Sands project in mid-2020.

“We are extremely pleased with the level of support shown by NAIF and the Federal Government as we progress the development of the Thunderbird Mineral Sands project,” Mr McFadzean said.

Project location (source: Sheffield Resources)

The Thunderbird Mineral Sands project is located between the towns of Derby and Broome in the Dampier Peninsula. The project is expected to support up to 220 jobs during construction and about 280 full-time drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) jobs once it is operational.

By the eighth year of operations, Sheffield Resources is expecting approximately 40 per cent Aboriginal employment at the mine together with $100 million in royalties to Traditional Owners for the entire mine life of Thunderbird.

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Source: Australian Mining (1, 2); The West Australian; Sheffield Resources