2014 Lead Agency Project Proposals

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2014
Lead Agency Project Proposals
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Projects requiring a higher level of service (Levels 2 or 3)
NOVEMBER 2014
Revised – November 2014
WA Mining Projects* – NOVEMBER 2014
Project
no.#
DMP projects
DMP Project
coordinator(s)
DMP contact
officer(s)
Project approval information
*DMP LEAD AGENCY MINING PROJECTS – Projects requiring a higher level of service (Levels 2 or 3).
1
Toro Energy
Graham Cobby
Daniel Endacott
(Environment)
The original Toro Energy Wiluna Uranium Mining project (Lake Way and Centipede) received
WA State environmental approval October 2012 and Commonwealth approval on the
2 April 2013. On 20 November 2013, Toro Energy acquired the Lake Maitland resource from
Mega Uranium. There are now four deposits within the Wiluna Project regional resource
that make up the current economic mine plan: Lake Way, Millipede, Centipede and Lake
Maitland. Toro Energy Limited proposes the Extension to the Wiluna Uranium Project,
which involves the mining of uranium at two locations south of the town of Wiluna, Shire of
Wiluna. The locations are known as Millipede (approximately 30 kilometers south of Wiluna)
and Lake Maitland (approximately 105 kilometers south-east of Wiluna). On 7 April 2014,
the EPA Chairman determined the Expansion Project will undergo a Public Environmental
Review. The Environmental Scoping Document (ESD) was released for public comment.
The comment period ended 20 August 2014.
Wiluna Uranium
Expansion Project
(Lake Maitland and
Millipede)
2.
Cameco/Mitsubishi
Kintyre Uranium
Project
Graham Cobby
Danielle Risbey
The public comment period for the Kintyre ERMP ended on the 14 February. The EPA board
and DMP visited the proposed site 15-16 April 2014. The EPA released EPA Report 1522 on
28 July 2014. The EPA recommended conditional environmental approval of the project.
The appeals period closed August 11, 2014.
3.
Energy and Minerals
Australia
Graham Cobby
Daniel Endacott
Uranium mining project proposal located in the Shire of Menzies 240 km east north east of
Kalgoorlie. The proposal includes the development of a processing plant, waste rock dumps,
tailings storage facilities, roads, accommodation and an airstrip. Mining is proposed to take
place through open pit methods in four separate deposits – Princess, Ambassador, Emperor
and Shogun. The ore would be processed onsite over a period of approximately 15 years.
Uranium oxide concentrate would be shipped through either the Port of Darwin or Port
Adelaide. The proposal was referred to the WA EPA August 2013 and EPBC Act
28 November 2013 and a Public Environmental Review level of assessment was
determined. The ESD was released for public comment in August 2014.
Eugene Bouwhuis
Demelza Dravnieks
The NBG Life of Mine Extension Project is currently undergoing State and Commonwealth
environmental approvals processes (referred May 2012). The Public Environmental Review
(PER) is under review by the relevant Decision Making Authorities and the Commonwealth
DoE. An offset package has been included in the PER. The final native vegetation
disturbance anticipated for the project has been reduced to 1755 ha over the next 15 to
20 years from the initial 3500 ha that was referred.
Mulga Rock Uranium
Project
4.
Newmont Boddington
Gold Extension
Project
Lead Agency Project Proposals – 2014
1
WA Petroleum Projects
Project
no.#
DMP projects
DMP Project
coordinator(s)
DMP contact
officer(s)
Project approval information
*LEAD AGENCY MINING PROJECTS – Projects requiring a higher level of service (Levels 2 or 3).
1.
“South West Hub”
CCS Project
Dominique Van Gent
Martin Burke
2.
Eastern Goldfields Gas
Pipeline Project
Walter Law
Bev Bower
APA Operations Pty Ltd, a subsidiary company within the APA Group (APA), plan to construct and operate a
294 km high pressure natural gas pipeline to convey gas from the Murrin Murrin gas lateral pipeline (licence PL 36)
to the Sunrise Dam Gold Mine and to the Tropicana Gold Mine. Both gold mines are operated by AngloGold Ashanti
Australia (AGA). The pipeline will be called the Eastern Goldfields Gas Pipeline (EGP). A lead agency project briefing
and approvals coordination meeting was held on 17 April 2014. Baseline flora and fauna, heritage and archaeological
surveys have been conducted along the proposed pipeline route. Project engineering design and procurement of
equipment are in progress. A pipeline application (STP-PLA-0025) for a pipeline licence under the Petroleum Pipelines
Act 1969 has been lodged and is being assessed. Four Miscellaneous Licences have been applied for under the
Mining Act 1978 for the purposes of construction and operation of the pipeline in the land areas covered by the
Miscellaneous Licences. The project has been referred to the WA Environment Protection Authority on 30 July 2014
and is being assessed. The Commonwealth have determined the project is “not a controlled action” under the EPBC
Act 1999. Construction works for the pipeline and associated facilities on site are scheduled to start in 2015 with first
gas delivery planned for early 2016.
Walter Law
Beverley Bower
Buru discovered the Ungani oil field with the drilling of Ungani-1 well in September 2011. The well is located in
exploration permit EP391 in the onshore Canning Basin. Three other wells were subsequently drilled. Production
testing and field development work is in progress to establish reservoir production performance. Buru plan to
construct an oil pipeline from its Ungani site to a road tanker loading facility (stage one) and a 200,000 litre crude oil
storage tank and ship loading terminal (stage two) to facilitate the expansion of the Canning Basin Ungani oil field. A
pipeline licence application to cover the oil production facility, the oil pipeline and the tanker load-out facility is being
assessed under the Petroleum Pipelines Act 1969.
Walter Law
Beverley Bower
Chevron is responsible for the decommissioning of all offshore and onshore production, processing and export
facilities on Thevenard Island (TVI) located 25 kilometres offshore from the town of Onslow, Western Australia.
Following an application from Chevron Australia Pty Ltd, DMP provided consent on 22 January 2014 to the licensees
to cease to operate the four licenced pipelines. Petroleum recovery operations ceased in April 2014 and all facilities
are being cleaned of petroleum residue. Offshore facilities decommissioning is scheduled over 2015 -2016. Onshore
remediation and rehabilitation is scheduled for 2016 -2020 in accordance with the TVI Field Closure Plan.
APA Group /
AngloGold Ashanti
3.
Ungani Oil Project
Buru Energy Limited
4.
Thevenard Island
Decommissioning
Project
Chevron Australia Pty
Ltd
Graham Cobby
A Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project involving companies from the South West investigating the potential
to store CO2 in the Lesueur Sandstone Formation of the Southern Perth Basin (on the Swan Coastal Plain between
Bunbury and Pinjarra). The project has been allocated $52 million under the Australian Government’s CCS Flagships
program to progress investigations of the suitability of the Lesueur. A separate National Geoscience Agreement has
been signed to progress seismic work (completed in March 2011) and a stratigraphic well in the Lesueur area was
drilled in the Shire of Harvey in February/March 2012 which has produced promising results demonstrating a thick
layer of shale suitable that could act as a sealing unit, and a large injection target formation of sandstone.
A community consultative committee was established in August 2011. A 3D seismic program was completed in
May 2014.
Lead Agency Project Proposals – 2014
2
Commonwealth Petroleum Projects
– from 1 January 2012, petroleum activities in Australian Commonwealth waters are regulated
by National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) and the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA). DMP will provide project
approval information for selected petroleum projects as a number of these project proposals have significant infrastructure and/or operational approval requirements within WA jurisdiction.
Project no.
Commonwealth petroleum projects
1.
Pluto LNG Expansion Project
Trains 2 & 3
Woodside
2.
Wheatstone LNG Development
Chevron Australia Pty Ltd
Project approval information
The Pluto LNG project is located 190km north-west of Karratha, Western Australia, in the
Northern Carnarvon Basin. The project is a joint venture between Woodside, the operator,
which has a 90% interest, and Tokyo Gas (5%) and Kansai Electric (5%). The project is
processing gas from the Pluto and neighbouring Xena gas fields. Production started April
2012. Expansion plans for Pluto are on hold.
Chevron Australia plan to construct and operate a two train liquefied natural gas (LNG)
facility and domestic gas plant at the Ashburton North Strategic Industrial Area, 12
kilometres west of Onslow on the Pilbara coast of Western Australia.
The initial capacity is expected to be two trains of 8.9 million tonnes per annum. Eventually
the Project could expand to produce up to 25 million tonnes per annum of LNG. The
Project requires the installation of gas and condensate gathering, processing and export
facilities offshore and onshore. A final investment decision on the Project was announced in
September 2011 and construction is now underway. First LNG shipments are planned
for 2016.
3.
Scarborough LNG Project
ExxonMobil
4.
Ichthys Gas Browse
(Inpex)
Esso Australia Pty Ltd (ExxonMobil) is proposing to develop the Scarborough gas field
through the installation and operation of a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) liquefaction,
storage and offloading facility (the ‘Project’). The Scarborough field is located within
retention lease WA-1-R approximately 220 km northwest of Exmouth off the coast of
Western Australia. ExxonMobil submitted a Referral (reference 2013/6811) under the
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) on 2 April
2013. FEED studies are in progress. Preliminary environmental documentation was
submitted in September 2013. FLNG is considered the preferred option.
FEED studies underway. FID decision made in January 2012. The project is now in the
construction phase. First shipment expected in Q4 2016.
Lead Agency Project Proposals – 2014
3
OTHER WA RESOURCE PROJECTS:
Selected Department of State Development lead agency resource projects where DMP provide approval agency services.
Project
Project
Key legislation
Project information
1
Roy Hill Iron Ore &
Infrastructure
Mining Act 1978
State Agreement Act
Located 115km north-east of Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The project will consist of:
Mining operation for 55Mtpa hematite iron ore; Crushing, screening and processing lump and fines products;
Stockpiling and train loading; A 344km standard gauge, single line, dedicated heavy-haul railway from the mine
site to Port Hedland; Port facility located at Port Hedland for receiving, stockpiling, screening and an Automated
Operations Centre in Perth. A special railway license (SRL) was granted, mining of high grade ore commenced
in May 2014 and first shipment of ore for export is planned for 2015.
2
Yeelirrie Uranium
Cameco
State Agreement Act
Uranium mining project – On 26 August 2012, Cameco announced the acquisition of the Yeelirrie Uranium
Project from BHPB. Discovered in the early 1970’s, it is the largest known uranium deposit in WA.
3
Ashburton North LNG
Project Precinct
Planning Legislation
Land Administration Act
New strategic industrial area 20kms south of Onslow allocated for the development of multi user LNG
processing facilities and associated infrastructure. Future port facilities are planned.
Lead Agency Project Proposals – 2014
4
Government of Western Australia
Department of Mines and Petroleum
Mineral House, 100 Plain Street
East Perth, Western Australia 6004
Tel: +61 8 9222 3333
Fax: +61 8 9222 3862
Email: dmp@dmp.wa.gov.au
www.dmp.wa.gov.au
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