BHP Billiton: Finucane Island, Western Australia

Upgrade works to a conveyor at the Finucane Island Process Plant presented an unusual challenge to Monadelphous – the conveyor was located in a tunnel 30 metres under the harbour between the plant and the port facilities. Working in a 1200 metre-long tunnel, 4.3 metres in diameter, required special techniques and safety measures to deal with the restricted access, low light and humid conditions.

The balance of the structural and mechanical works were of a more standard nature, including the detailed drafting, fabrication, delivery to site and erection of over 2500 tonnes of steelwork for the upgrading of the five existing conveyors, the installation of new conveyors and associated transfer stations, and the erection of a lump rescreening plant. The Finucane Island process plant, near Port Hedland, processes over 70 million tonnes of iron ore per year. The contract was awarded in late December 2002 and was completed March 2004.