Kings Valley mine (Western Australia) facts for kids
FMG's Solomon hub
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| Location | |
|---|---|
 Kings Valley mine
Location in Western Australia
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| Location | Shire of Ashburton, Pilbara |
| State | Western Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 22°07′14″S 117°52′38″E / 22.120451°S 117.877102°E |
| Production | |
| Products | Iron ore |
| Production | 40 million tonnes/annum |
| History | |
| Opened | 2014 |
| Owner | |
| Company | Fortescue Metals Group |
| Website | https://www.fmgl.com.au/about-fortescue/our-operations |
The Kings Valley mine is a large iron ore mine in Western Australia. It is run by a company called Fortescue Metals Group (FMG). The mine is located in the Pilbara region, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Tom Price.
The Kings Valley mine is part of FMG's Solomon Hub. This hub also includes the Firetail mine. FMG has two other main mining areas: the Chichester Hub and the Western Hub.
Land Rights and the Mine
The Kings Valley mine is on the traditional land of the Yindjibarndi people. These are the original owners of the land. For a long time, there was a disagreement between the Yindjibarndi people and Fortescue Metals Group. This was about payments for using their land for mining.
This issue even caused a split within the local community. The main group, the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, said no to FMG's offers. Because of this, another group, the Wirlu-Murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, was formed. This second group decided to work with the mining company.
The disagreement went on for 17 years. Finally, in 2020, the High Court of Australia made a decision. They ruled in favor of the Yindjibarndi people. This meant FMG could not appeal the decision.
However, in 2021, talks about a land use agreement did not work out. As of May 2022, the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation is still in court. They are asking for payment because they believe FMG has been mining on their land without a proper agreement. The court needs to decide if the community should get "compensation" for their land rights.
How the Mine Started
In March 2011, FMG asked for permission to start the Solomon iron ore project. This project included the Kings Valley and Firetail mines. It also involved building 127 kilometers (79 miles) of new railway lines. These lines would connect the mines to the existing Fortescue railway. At that time, it was thought the mines would operate for 20 years. They were expected to produce 80 million tonnes of iron ore each year together.
The Firetail mine opened first, on May 6, 2013. The Kings Valley mine opened later, on March 28, 2014. Kings Valley was planned to produce 40 million tonnes of iron ore every year. The Firetail mine was planned to produce half that amount. This meant the whole Solomon Hub would produce 60 million tonnes each year.
The opening of the Kings Valley mine finished a big expansion plan for Fortescue. This plan cost about A$9.96 billion and started in 2010. It helped the company produce 155 million tonnes of iron ore each year.
In late 2016, a plan to make the Solomon Hub mining area three times bigger was approved. This happened even though the Yindjibarndi people were against it. There were also worries about how it would affect the nearby Hammersley Gorge in Karijini National Park. The Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation did not approve the expansion. But the Wirlu-Murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation did.
In September 2021, mining at the Solomon Hub stopped for a short time. This was after a sad accident where an employee died.
Other Mines in the Area
A third mine in the Solomon Hub, called the Queens Valley mine, was approved in 2019. It is expected to cost A$417 million to build. This mine is about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) west of the Kings Valley mine. It is planned to open in 2022.
Besides the Solomon Hub, FMG also operates other mines. As of March 2022, they have the Chichester Hub, which includes the Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak mines. They also have the Western Hub, which has the Eliwana mine.
