US-based Fluor Corporation, a leading engineering construction company, has achieved a significant milestone on BHP’s $3.6 billion South Flank iron ore project in Australia, erecting the first 1,500 tonnes of modules in the ore handling plant.

This construction milestone is in the critical sequence to first ore and comes following achievement of 50 per cent project completion, announced by BHP in October 2019.

Fluor is providing engineering, procurement and construction management services on South Flank, which is located in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia, said a statement.

When operational, South Flank will be one of the largest iron ore processing hubs in the world. The project will include an 80-million-tonne-per-year crushing and screening plant, an overland conveyor system and rail-loading facilities.

South Flank engineering and procurement work is being performed from BHP's office in Perth, with Fluor working together with BHP as an integrated project team.

Tony Morgan, president of Fluor’s Mining and Metals business, said: “We are extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish with BHP on this project including our commitment to achieve diversity through the hiring of indigenous and local team members.”

“The pioneering integrated team approach on this project is truly a collaborative effort. We look forward to continuing our long and successful relationship with BHP on this project and beyond,” he said.

“The project team has worked extremely hard to get the project to this position,” said Richard Gerspacher, project director. “Based on the project routines and culture we've created, I am confident that the project will continue to proceed in a positive manner as we work towards first ore.”

Fluor previously performed the feasibility study for the project before it was awarded the follow-on construction and project management scope. Over the life of the project, it is expected that more than 9,000 people will be engaged in the South Flank work force. Construction began in July 2018, and first production of iron ore is anticipated in 2021. – TradeArabia News Service