YIGARN'S AUSTRALIAN MID WEST PLAN RUNS INTO OPPOSITION

摘要

SINGAPORE -- A plan by Australian construction company Yilgarn Infrastructure to invest 2 billion Australia dollars (1.54 billion dollars) in open-access port and rail assets in the Mid West area of Western Australia has provoked strong opposition from a key player in the region. Yilgarn unveiled its proposal at a press conference on September 4, claiming it had "significant" --though unspecified -- backing from Chinese investors. Construction of rail infrastructure and a deep water port at Oakajee could be completed by 2010, as long as the company secures backing from key producers in the region, Yilgarn chairman John Saunders said. The Mid West region is home to a number of junior iron ore producers, many of whom are already pushing to develop shared infrastructure through the Geraldton Iron Ore Alliance (MB Sep 4).