PRL Group (ASX:PRG) has exported its first phosphate rock out of Townsville after taking ownership of North-West Queensland’s Admore mine in September.
Port of Townsville general manager business development Drew Penny said the recommencement of export operations would have many positive impacts for the region.
“Whilst there was a temporary pause to phosphate rock exports from Townsville earlier this year, I must commend PRL Group for their hard work since taking over the Ardmore mine to be able to begin exporting again so soon,” Mr Penny said.
The shipment of more than 25,000 tonnes of phosphate rock left the port for New Zealand last week.
Mr Penny thanked PRL Group and Glencore for working with the port to ensure a smooth process to begin the export operations again.
He said capabilities on the port’s Berth 8, managed by Glencore, included a shiploader that could efficiently and quickly load cargo into vessels.
The Ardmore mine, near Dajarra, went into care and maintenance in March after John Park and Joanne Dunn of FTI Consulting were appointed as voluntary administrators of mine owner Centrex and its subsidiary Agriflex.
PRL Group chief executive officer Nick Gan described the timing of the shipment – 72 days since that company took over the Ardmore operation – as an incredible achievement.
“I would like to recognise the efforts of the Ardmore team and all of our partners who have been working with us to achieve this result, including the Port of Townsville, Aurizon, Northern Stevedoring Services (NSS), Glencore, Qube and the Queensland State Government,” he said.
PRL Group also owns and operates a rock phosphate mine on Christmas Island, about 1500km west of the Australian mainland and 2600km from Perth.
MITEZ chief executive officer Maria James said the group was delighted to see PRL’s first shipment from Port of Townsville since the completion of their acquisition of the Ardmore phosphate mine in September this year.
“What a brilliant outcome that PRL have developed pit-to-port operations in such a short time frame,” she said.
“Cost-effective and efficient freight solutions are required for the export of phosphate and PRL’s considered and measured approach is commendable.”