Thunderbird Mine reaches 38 per cent completion milestone after construction ramps up

Kimberley Mineral Sands Thunderbird mine is well on its way, with construction reaching 38 per cent completion.

Bulk earthworks and civil works have made significant progress in the past few months, with construction of the tailings storage facility and borefield now under way.

Sheffield Resources executive chair Bruce Griffin said the $130.1 million secured from Yansteel in March last year was being put to work, enabling the mine’s construction to progress rapidly.

“It’s extremely pleasing to see the Thunderbird site construction progressing well,” he said.

“KMS are moving ever closer to committing to full construction at the conclusion of the project financing activities.

“With first production on track for Q1 2024, Thunderbird is well positioned to deliver product into a buoyant market that continues to experience supply constraints across the globe.”

The mine’s accommodation village is also nearing completion. It is expected to house more than 160 Kimberley-based employees.

It comes after the company brought an end to a long-running feud with the Shire of Derby-West Kimberley last month over where the main export hub for the project would be located.

The project, which is tipped to create 350 local jobs over the 36-year life of the mine, had originally planned to export out of the port of Derby but pivoted to strike a deal with neighbouring Broome after a company merger in late 2021.

The move prompted Shire of Derby-West Kimberley president Geoff Haerewa to warn the company in January it could be slapped with a $10 million bill for the change under current contracts.

Now the dust looks to have settled on the dispute, with KMS signing an agreement to use Derby Port infrastructure into the mid 2040s.

Cr Haerewa said the agreement meant locals could look forward to the prosperous future of the project, which he said would have a “significant” impact on the town.