Juno Minerals (ASX:JNO) has issued tenders for major contracting packages for the Mount Mason DSO hematite project in WA, with the near-term miner eyeing a production start early next year.

Spun out from Jupiter Mines (ASX:JMS), Juno owns the Mount Mason hematite project and the Mt Ida magnetite project in WA’s Yilgarn region.

With the iron ore price at all-time highs above US$200/tonne, the objective is to bring Mount Mason into production at relatively low cost by Q1 2022.

Mount Mason hosts high grade at-surface resources of 5.9 million tonnes at 60.1% iron ore (measured 4.8 million tonnes, indicated 1.08 million tonnes and inferred 0.32 million tonnes).

The project has an existing accommodation camp — which can be utilised immediately for early works and then expanded – and the majority of the environmental and mining approvals for the project are already secure.

A number of previously obtained environmental approvals have expired, but can be easily updated and resubmitted for approval, the company says.

All tenders are being accelerated to market where possible to ready the project for execution.

The contract mining services tender was issued to the market on June 11, less than a month since Juno listed on the ASX.

Submissions are due by the end of July 2021 with management confident of receiving favourable tender rates “based on the significant level of market interest received during the Expression of Interest process”.

Three parties have been engaged to upgrade and expand the Cassini Village. Final proposals from these participants are due by the end of July 2021.

Juno also recently met with the Department of Mines, Industrial Relations and Safety (DMIRS) to discuss the approvals status of the project.

Native Vegetation Clearing Permits (NVCPs) and Works Approval are required to be resubmitted for approval.

Juno expects to lodge the applications with updated flora survey data in August to start the assessment process.

Meanwhile, transport and logistics planning is progressing with a major logistics provider.

Juno plans to utilise trucking, above-rail material handling solutions and existing port facilities to move the modest volumes of iron ore Mount Mason may produce initially.

The company is maintaining a target of Q1 2022 for completion of construction and commencement of operations.

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Juno Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

 

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