South32’s Groote Eylandt mine has resumed export sales more than a year after a devastating cyclone wrecked its infrastructure and brought operations to a standstill.
The Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO) suffered significant damages, including a destroyed wharf when Tropical Cyclone Megan struck the Northern Territory in March last year.
Now, the company has taken a major step towards recovery with its first shipment of manganese ore expected to leave GEMCO’s newly reconstructed wharf shortly.
“This is a major milestone in GEMCO’s recovery that follows many months of tireless work by our people,” South32 chief operating officer Vanessa Torres said.
Tropical Cyclone Megan was an intense weather system that produced record rainfall of 681mm and some of the strongest wind gusts recorded in 20 years.
As the cyclone subsided, GEMCO began its recovery activities which included dewatering pits and repairing or replacing damaged infrastructure.
The GEMCO team also worked closely with the broader Groote Eylandt community to support their recovery, with efforts focused on repairing key infrastructure, enabling the delivery of supplies and the restoration of essential services.
GEMCO estimates more than 317,000 hours were invested in the wharf recovery and rebuild, with more than 970 tonnes of steel and 740 tonnes of concrete removed from the seabed.
A critical bridge connecting the northern pits of the Western Leases mining area and the processing plant was also rebuilt.
“Tropical Cyclone Megan severely impacted operations at GEMCO, requiring a recovery effort of immense scale and complexity,” Torres said.
“Our teams have done an outstanding job in rebuilding damaged infrastructure and preparing to resume export sales.
“Throughout this activity, we’ve remained focused on the safety and wellbeing of our workforce and the Groote Eylandt community, including by supporting the community with their recovery efforts.”
