PILBARA

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INTERVIEWS | Pilbara Ports Authority AUGUST 2014 | Resource Global Network 31
Port Hedland and Dampier’s performance 2005-2014
The Port of Port Hedland, now managed by the Pilbara Ports Authority, is the world’s largest in terms of bulk
export tonnage. It has experienced consistent growth since 2003 and has doubled its throughput in the four
years since 2010.
The Port of Dampier, now managed by the Pilbara Ports Authority, is one of the world’s largest bulk export
ports. It has maintained a pretty steady throughput averaging around 173mt since 2009.
Base will play a key communications and
monitoring role for vessels using the ports of
Dampier, Ashburton and, in the future, Cape
Preston and Anketell.
Finally, the Floating Deck Installation (FDI)
planned for Dampier will see a large pontoon
deck installed at the end of the Dampier
Cargo Wharf. This will provide additional
berth capacity for offshore vessel tonnage.
“PPA will also continue to focus on advancing
the greenfield port development projects of
Anketell, Cape Preston East and Balla Balla,
further expanding the potential of the West
Pilbara and connection to international
markets,” Roger adds.
Relationship with the
mining industry
Both the ports of Port Hedland and Dampier
each serve their share of large and globally
significant resources companies. Port
Hedland’s key proponents include BHP
Billiton (ASX, LON, NYSE: BHP; JSE: BIL),
Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG), Roy
Hill, Atlas Iron (ASX: AGO), Process Minerals
International Pty Ltd, Consolidated Minerals
(ASX: CSM) and Dampier Salt; while Dampier’s
include Rio Tinto (ASX, LON, NYSE: RIO),
Woodside (ASX: WPL), Dampier Salt, Yara
Pilbara Fertilisers (OBX: YAR) and Mermaid
Marine.
In addition to providing these proponents
and other stakeholders with reliable port
facilities, PPA helps to facilitate trade
and business opportunities. Under state
agreement with the Western Australian
Government, PPA identifies “rights,
obligations, terms and conditions for the
development of projects whilst providing a
framework within all parties must operate,”
explains Roger.
The size and global standing of PPA’s mining
industry proponents goes some way to
explaining how its ports have continued to
prosper even as the so-called Australian
mining boom winds down and the industry’s
smaller players struggle.
“The ports of Dampier and Port Hedland
have continued to experience strong growth
in both imports and exports, with frequent
record-breaking figures achieved in recent
years,” says Roger, adding that further strong
growth is projected for the next five years.
“The port of Port Hedland achieved a
record annual tonnage throughput of 372.3
million tonnes (mt) for the financial year, an
increase of 29% from the previous year. The
Utah Point Multi-User Bulk Export facility
in Port Hedland recorded an annual total
throughput of 18.7mt, an increase of 51%
from the previous financial year. The Utah
Facility achieved a significant milestone on
23 July 2014, with 50mt of product exported
since its commissioning in 2010.”Throughput
at Dampier has not grown in recent years but
it has stayed consistent, achieving an annual
throughput of 177.1mt in 2013/14.
Iron ore accounted for a staggering 82.5% of
that, demonstrating the mineral’s enduring