❓ Ms. Saffioti questions why the Solomon Sustainable Water Scheme, deemed feasible, didn't proceed. The answer explains that revised mining plans by FMG resulted in less excess water than initially projected, rendering the scheme less viable.
AnsweredQoN 4011Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the answers given to the additional questions from the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations concerning the Pilbara Water Opportunities Scheme at the 2013–2014 Annual Report hearings, and I ask: (a) noting that the Solomon Sustainable Water Scheme was deemed to be feasible, what reasons have been given to the department for the program not proceeding beyond the feasibility study; and (b) if no reasons have been given to the Department for the Solomon Sustainable Water Scheme proceeding, does the Department have an understanding of why the project did not proceed beyond the feasibility study?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 June 2015
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development
Response time
55 days
(a) The purpose of the Solomon Sustainable Water Scheme study was to assess the feasibility of excess water from the Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) future Solomon operations to be used as a component to meet the evolving demands of Pilbara coastal development, both during dewatering operations and as a potential legacy water storage and redraw supply post mining closure. Although the project did not provide mine surplus water opportunities as a result of expanded mining activities, it did investigate and provide a methodology on the best use of excess water by quantifying its value in monetary terms.
When the study started on the 6th May 2010, data available at the time suggested the Solomon mine would have approximately 5GL/year of excess mine water during the mine life. It was projected that 10GL/yr would be available in the initial 2 years. These were volumes adopted for the assessment, and used within the study. Subsequent FMG studies, and changes to their wider development plans, resulted in the revision of the initial assumed volumes. The Solomon project changed in terms of its mine planning, with a focus on several other deposits, meaning that Solomon did not have continuous excess water, as was originally expected.
(b) Not applicable.
When the study started on the 6th May 2010, data available at the time suggested the Solomon mine would have approximately 5GL/year of excess mine water during the mine life. It was projected that 10GL/yr would be available in the initial 2 years. These were volumes adopted for the assessment, and used within the study. Subsequent FMG studies, and changes to their wider development plans, resulted in the revision of the initial assumed volumes. The Solomon project changed in terms of its mine planning, with a focus on several other deposits, meaning that Solomon did not have continuous excess water, as was originally expected.
(b) Not applicable.
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