Iluka officially opens Jacinth-Ambrosia project

Iluka Resources officially opened South Australia’s latest mine last week - six months ahead of schedule and $30 million under budget. Approximately 200 kilometres north west of Ceduna, the mine is capable of producing more than 30 000 tones of zircon contained in heavy mineral concentrates.

Iluka’s Managing Director, David Robb, stated at the opening: “This project represents a major resource development for South Australia and a pivotal new source of global supply of zircon sand. The project has the capacity to supply around 25 per cent of global zircon demand and will cement Iluka’s position as the largest global supplier of zircon - which is used in a range of commercial, domestic and industrial applications and for which China is now the major global consumer.”

The Jacinth-Ambrosia project, approved in May 2008, has been delivered without a loss time injury, in full compliance with our environmental obligations and apart from being several months ahead of schedule, is below the initial approved capital of $420 million, with an estimated final expenditure of less than $390 million.

Mr Robb stated: “I am confident this project will make a sustainable contribution to the region, as well as to the economic and social welfare of indigenous people. In relation to the latter, we have already achieved our 20 per cent indigenous employment target.”