Federal government approves largest solar salt project

The Federal Government has granted environmental approval for BCI Minerals’ (ASX: BCI) Optimised Mardie project (OMP) in the Pilbara region of WA.

The OMP will be the largest solar salt project in Australia and the third largest globally, producing 5.35mtpa of high-quality industrial salt for export with an operating life expected to exceed 60 years.

The approval allows operations to commence and enables further construction in the northern area of the project footprint.

BCI Minerals will commence operations by filling evaporation ponds one, two and three with seawater from September 10.

Once the initial three ponds are filled, BCI Minerals will update its Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan (GMMP) using real-time data from the company’s extensive network of monitoring bores and additional studies and resubmit the GMMP to the WA and Federal environmental regulators for approval prior to filling evaporation ponds four through nine.

The company remains on track to achieve first salt on ship in Q2 FY27.

BCI Minerals managing director David Boshoff says this is an important and pivotal moment for the company, as it 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,” he said.

“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.

“BCI Minerals has diligently worked through all State and Federal approval processes over many years with the WA and [Federal] Governments.”