Mardie Minerals is advancing a greenfields project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia focused on producing high-quality salt and sulphate of potash (SoP) through sustainable solar and wind evaporation techniques.
Located about 80 kilometres southwest of Karratha, the Mardie Salt and SoP Project aims to become Australia’s pioneering operation to produce both industrial-grade salt and SoP fertiliser from seawater.
The project will leverage an inexhaustible seawater resource along the West Pilbara coast, concentrating it in large evaporation and crystalliser ponds to generate over five million tonnes of high-purity sodium chloride salt and 140,000 tonnes of SoP annually.
This initiative by Mardie Minerals Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of BCI Minerals, includes plans for an extensive evaporation pond system spanning approximately 100 square kilometres, two processing plants, and an export facility.
The project offers a sustainable approach by mainly utilising natural solar and wind energy to power the production process.
The harvested salt will reach a typical purity of 99.7 per cent sodium chloride and will be complemented by a SoP product with around 51 per cent potassium oxide content.
These products cater to industrial uses and the agricultural sector, respectively.
The revised project proposal, currently under Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) assessment number 2500, incorporates several key updates, including offshore disposal of dredge spoil within a designated dredge material placement area, upgrades to the existing airstrip, and permission for groundwater abstraction up to 0.7 gigalitres per year.
The EPA recently released its report and recommendations on the project, with the appeal period currently open.
The project is referred to under section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act, highlighting its significance in the regulatory landscape in the Pilbara region.
Supported by a substantial loan facility of up to $490 million from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), the Mardie project represents a major boost to regional economic development and sustainable resource utilisation.
With an anticipated operational life exceeding 60 years, it is expected to deliver long-term benefits, including local job creation, infrastructure development, and opportunities for Indigenous and local supplier involvement in the region.
The project also underscores Western Australia’s emerging role in advanced mineral processing and sustainable salt production.
In summary, the Mardie Salt and SoP Project is poised to be the first large-scale solar evaporation salt operation in Western Australia in over 25 years.
Its integration of environmentally sustainable practices with advanced processing technologies aims to secure a vital supply of essential mineral products while fostering economic growth in the Pilbara.
The project’s design and development continue to integrate environmental considerations, operational efficiency, and community engagement to ensure alignment with state regulatory standards and stakeholder expectations.
