‘Pivotal moment’: BCI Minerals wins environmental approval for $1.4b Mardie salt operation near Karratha

BCI Minerals has been granted environmental approvals for its $1.4 billion Mardie project near Karratha, paving the way for the production process to start at Australia’s first major salt project in 25 years. Praising the environmental outcome for the project, Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek gave the all-clear to the company to start filling its first three evaporation ponds with saltwater as of today. “Projects like this show we can support industry while also protecting the environment,” Ms Plibersek said. Salt from Mardie will be used for industrial chemicals which are then used to create aluminium, glass, solar panels, ceramics, paints and plastics. Federal Resources and Northern Australia Minister Madeleine King said Mardie was “an important project for Western Australia”. “It will create jobs and diversification for the Pilbara,” Ms King said. Once operational Mardie is tipped to produce 5.3 million tonnes of salt a year, a rate that will propel BCI to a top-three global producer. The company is banking on strong demand for product in Asia. BCI managing director David Boshoff said: “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.” After the first three ponds are filled BCI said it would update its groundwater monitoring and management plan to resubmit to State and Federal environmental regulators to start filling evaporation ponds four through to nine. Securing the approval means BCI can also start construction at the northern area of the project. BCI chair Brian O’Donnell said the company would continue working with State and Federal departments “to deliver a great, sustainable and responsible project for Australia”. “The board of BCI, on behalf of all shareholders and other stakeholders, wishes to express its appreciation for the support of the Mardie project provided by the Commonwealth Government and the WA State Government, culminating in the Commonwealth environmental approvals announced today,” Mr O’Donnell said. “BCI is committed to protecting the environment, and will work diligently to ensure we comply with all approval conditions.” Mardie received a $490 million loan from the Federal Government’s Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility in December 2023. The approval comes after BCI inked a 21-year deal with CSL Australia in July for transhipment services to the Mardie salt and potash project, a move BCI said would offer a cheaper alternative to a deep-water port. BCI said it was on track to achieve first salt on ship in the second quarter of FY27. The company is nearly halfway through construction of Mardie. WA businessman Kerry Stokes, chair of Seven West Media, has a 35 per cent stake in BCI, and AustralianSuper — the nation’s biggest super fund — has a 31 per cent stake. Shares in BCI closed the day down 1.96 per cent to 25¢.