Australia BCI Minerals granted environmental approval for Mardie salt and potash project

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Australian BCI Minerals announced the government has granted environmental approval for the Mardie salt and potash project in Western Australia.

With this approval secured, BCI Minerals said it will commence operations by filling three evaporation ponds starting 10 September.

Once filled, BCI Minerals will update its groundwater monitoring and management plan using data from extensive monitoring bores and additional studies.

It will then resubmit the plan to the local and federal environmental regulators for approval prior to filling the remaining evaporation ponds.

The company said construction at Mardie of the salt-first component is progressing at 48% completed, with further section work set to commence on 10 September.

BCI added it remains on track to achieve first salt on ship in Q2 2027.

Located 80km south of Karratha, in the Pilbara region, Mardie is anticipated to produce 5.35 million tonnes/year of high-quality industrial salt for export and 140,000 tonnes/year of sulphate of potash (SOP).

It has an operating life expected to exceed 60 years with the export jetty finished and the crystallizer construction now at more than 19% completed.

“This is an important and pivotal moment for BCI Minerals as we move into the next phase of becoming Australia’s newest, high-quality industrial salt producer. Australia hasn’t developed a salt project of this significance in 25 years, and the Mardie project will be Australia’s largest solar salt project and the third largest globally,” said David Boshoff, BCI Minerals managing director.

“With the projected growth in demand for high grade industrial salt in our target Asian markets, BCI Minerals is strongly positioned to supply global markets with Mardie salt for generations.”