• Reduced charges at Utah Point Bulk Handling Facility maintained for junior miners
• Decision helps preserve employment for workers, contractors and suppliers

The State Government will extend price relief at Port Hedland's Utah Point Bulk Handling Facility to help junior Pilbara miners continue exporting iron ore and protect thousands of jobs.
 
Transport Minister Dean Nalder said he would issue a direction to Pilbara Ports Authority to extend the discount regime to June 30, 2017.
 
The Government originally announced a $2.50 per tonne discount for the junior operators in May 2015, which was due to expire on Thursday (June 30, 2016).
 
Mr Nalder said the decision would help junior operators such as Atlas Iron and Mineral Resources Limited preserve employment for their workers, contractors and suppliers.
 
"The Government has had great success with the Utah Point facility," he said.
 
"The initiative to build the port has unlocked iron ore deposits that would have been difficult to access, enabling additional economic development in the Pilbara including thousands of jobs."
 
State Development Minister Bill Marmion said the State Government had also decided to extend the discount to manganese exports handled at the facility to encourage the remobilisation of the nearby Woodie Woodie mine.
 
"We would like to see Woodie Woodie recommence operations and the extension of the discount demonstrates the Government's support for remobilisation," Mr Marmion said.
 
The $2.50 per tonne port charge discount is conditional on the iron ore price staying below A$80 per tonne.


Fact File

• Junior iron ore miners exporting through Utah receive a $2.50 per tonne discount from Stockyard 1 and a $1.73 per tonne discount from Stockyard 2