Silicon Project, Kemerton and Mine at Moora

Silicon Project, Kemerton and Mine at Moora - Revised Proposal

Project

Proponent:

Proposal description:

The original proposal is for mining of silica (quartzite) rock approximately 15 kilometres north of Moora on Mining Lease M70/191, and smelting to produce silicon, employing wood, charcoal, coal and the silica mined at Moora, in the Kemerton Industrial Area approximately 20 kilometres north of Bunbury in the Shire of Harvey.

This revised proposal is for an increase from the approved three submerged electric arc furnaces to four submerged electric arc furnaces at the Kemerton site, and the associated increase in production.

Assessment Number:

1783

Region:

South West

Referred under EP Act:

s38

Industry sector:

Industrial

Last updated:

August 9, 2021

Current Status:

Ministerial Statement published

1. Referral

Referral documentation:

Referral document

2. Decision on whether to assess this proposal

Chair's Determination:

Assessment on referral information (ARI)

Extract of determination:

1783-ChairDets-060409.pdf

Preliminary Environmental Factors:

Social Surroundings

Flora and Vegetation

Date published:

Monday, 6 April, 2009

4. EPA Report on assessment

EPA Report Number:

1317

EPA Report:

Silicon Project, Kemerton and Mine at Moora – Addition of a Fourth Submerged Arc Furnace at the Kemerton Smelter

Key Environmental Factors:

Flora and Vegetation

Date published:

Monday, 6 April, 2009

Appeals close:

Monday, 20 April, 2009

5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposal

Ministerial Statement

Date of approval:

Monday, 16 November, 2009

Ministerial Statement:

Statement 813.pdf

Post-assessment changes

s. 45C amendments:

Attachment 1 to Statement 813 - Increase mine depth to mine below the water table; increase the groundwater requirements from 80,000 kilolitres per annum to 250,000 kilolitres per annum; include water discharge via Kiaka Creek to the Coonderoo River wetlands; and administrative changes to remove key characteristics which are not environmentally significant or regulated by other authorities - changes to proposal approved under s45C on 21 October 2016.

Attachment 2 to Statement 813 - Changes:
• Modification of Moora mine disturbance footprint and addition of a Development Envelope.
• Change to dewater discharge location.
• Increase in authorised extent of water consumption (groundwater) for Kemerton from 290,000 kL per annum to 312,000 kL per annum.
• Specify extent of native vegetation clearing within disturbance footprint.
• Replacement of Table 4, with a file reference number to identify the change in coordinates of the dewater discharge location.

Changes to proposal approved under s45C on 9 August 2021

Date of approval s. 45C:

Friday, 21 October, 2016

Monday, 9 August, 2021