ESPERANCE
PORT — IRON ORE CAPACITY
257. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA
to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Ports:
I refer to the minister's response to question
without notice 172.
(1) Are the
projected iron ore tonnages to be exported through the port of Esperance for
the financial years 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 tied
to a single company or multiple companies?
(2) If the
tonnages relate to multiple companies, can the minister please provide a breakdown
of the tonnages per company?
(3) What
specific safeguards does the Southern Ports Authority have in place to avoid
capacity banking at the port of Esperance?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1)–(2)
The projected tonnages are based upon an assessment of demand from current and
prospective iron ore exporters in the region.
(3) The award
of any export licence includes confirmation of mine plans, regulatory
approvals, and supply chain agreements as necessary. Total allocated tonnage is
maintained within the capacity of the iron ore circuit. The Southern Ports
Authority has a strong commercial imperative to maximise the full capacity of
the port on behalf of all current and future exporters and importers.