Arc, Gold Valley sign agreement for iron ore transport

Arc Infrastructure has entered into a new agreement with the iron ore mining company Gold Valley for the transportation of approximately 1.2 million tonnes of iron ore each year. The ore will be transported from West Kalgoorlie to the Port of Esperance via the Arc Network.

The deal is linked to Gold Valley’s Wiluna West Iron Ore Project and will commence on 30 September, starting with three return train paths a week.

Arc Infrastructure General Manager Commercial Nathan Speed said the agreement reflected Arc’s ongoing commitment to increasing freight on rail and was a great boost for the region.

“The deal with Gold Valley is a significant vote of confidence in the Yilgarn iron ore region and we are thrilled to secure a new customer who has both an existing operation and significant growth aspirations. We’re also pleased from a community perspective, as we know that more freight moved on rail translates to safer and less congested roads and lower emissions. We’re looking forward to the commencement of Gold Valley’s rail task later this month, and to supporting them as they look to grow their operation moving forward,” Speed said.

Gold Valley Chief Executive Officer Scott Meacock said the agreement was a significant milestone.

“The move onto rail represents a significant step in the growth of the Gold Valley Group and toward securing the long-term resilience of the Wiluna West Iron Ore Project operations. We are excited by this first step and the opportunity to expand our presence in the Wiluna to Esperance corridor by working closely with all stakeholders, including Arc Infrastructure. We are grateful to all involved in supporting this new stage of our operations,” Meacock added.

Arc Infrastructure manages Western Australia’s rail freight network, operating and maintaining a railway that stretches more than 5,000 kilometres across the state.

Based in Perth, Gold Valley is involved in the exploration, development and production of iron ore assets in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.