On April 5, Midwest Mine Company of Sinosteel Australia received an official letter from Roger Cook, Deputy Premier and Minister for Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade; Hydrogen Industry; Tourism; Science, officially informing that Midwest Mine's named Okogie Port and Rail (OPR) iinfrastructure projecthas been awarded the Lead Agency Services qualificationby the Western Australian Government. With the approval of this qualification, Midwest Mine's infrastructure project will receive strong support from the Western Australian Government, laying a solid foundation for subsequent development.
Lead Agency Services is a special qualification awarded by the Western Australian Government for a very small number of projects that have a significant and strategic impact on the state. Projects with this qualification will receive a range of special support from the Western Australian Government and will be given green lane treatment for approvals.
Midwest Mine Company of Sinosteel Australia began the formal application process for the Lead Agency Services qualification with the Department of Jobs, Trade, Science and Innovation (JTSI), the authority for this qualification, in February 2021. Over the past year, the application process has been slow due to a number of unfavorable factors.
Midwest Mine Company of Sinosteel Australia took the initiative to plan for and coordinate the project. On the one hand, it actively submitted relevant project information and repeatedly communicated the project development plan, and on the other hand, meet with the Premier of Western Australia, Mike McGowan, the Deputy Premier in charge, Roger Cook, and the Minister for Regional Development,Alana McTiernan, Minister of Regional Development, and Lita Saffioti, Minister for Transport, Planning and Land, and other relevant government leaders for many times to repeatedly communicate the benefits of the infrastructure project in terms of employment and tax revenue for the state, and visited local governments, indigenous communities, council leaders and other stakeholders in the Geraldton port area. After more than a year of hard work, Midwest Mine Company was finally awarded the Lead Agency Services qualification.
Midwest Mine Company will continue to promote the study of the Midwest Mine project together with FMG Group and strive to reach a formal agreement to jointly develop the project as soon as possible.