Alumina and nickel maintained their long-held positions
as the state’s third and fourth most valuable mineral sectors
respectively. Prices for both commodities were negatively
impacted this financial year. The quantity of nickel sales
increased by 9.5% to a record 228 thousand tonnes; however,
the total value decreased by 2.3%, from $3.7 billion in FY2012
to $3.6 billion this financial year. The total value of alumina
decreased by 1.3% to $3.9 billion; however, the quantity sold
increased by 8.9%. The alumina price fell some 9% during
the period.
The overall value of base metals (copper, lead and zinc)
increased by 22% to just under $1.6 billion in FY2013. This
increase was due to the commencement of shipments from the
Paroo Station lead project and Sandfire’s DeGrussa-Dulgunna
copper–gold project. Copper is by far the most significant
base metal with total sales of $1.4 billion, up 24% on the
previous financial year. Sales of lead increased sharply from
$12.9 million to just under $47 million. Zinc output levels fell
by 12%, with the total value of sales falling from $121 million
in FY2012 to $100 million in FY2013.
The total value of mineral sands sales fell by just under 16%
to $756 million. Sales revenues were impacted by lower sales
tonnages in ilmenite, synthetic rutile and zircon.
The value of salt sales rose by around 8% to $382 million in
FY2013, while volumes fell by 3% to 12.4 million tonnes.
In FY2013, diamond sales volumes rebounded by 10.6% to
9.6
million carats. Increased tonnages and higher grades from
the Argyle underground mine accounted for this improvement.
Coal prices remained static, whilst output and values
increased by a little over 7% to reach 7.5 million tonnes and
$311 million respectively.
Output for cobalt, as a by-product of nickel mining,
increased by 31% to 6,383 tonnes, but weaker prices translated
into only a 10% increase in sales value, which reached
$160 million.
Commodity
Billions (A$)
Iron Ore
$56.4
LNG
$12.5
Crude Oil and Condensate
$9.9
Gold
$9.0
Alumina
$3.9
Nickel
$3.6
Others
$6.5
Total
$101.8
Western Australia’s mineral and petroleum
resources in order of value for FY2013 WEre:
Sources: Department of Mines and Petroleum;
Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The dominance of the
resources sector in the
nation’s economy is expected
to continue, given the number
of projects that have been
expanded or developed, in
particular iron ore and LNG.
Hamersley Ranges, Western Australia
Simon Phelps Photography
Minesite 2013
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