The contractor has already started pre-production activities by mobilising its heavy earthmoving equipment to the Iron Ridge site, with open pit mining, crushing and screening operations due to commence in the current quarter.

MACA has previously had contracts with Atlas Iron and Crossland Resources for iron ore-related works.

Fenix managing director Rob Brierley said Fenix had been liaising with MACA for over a year about Iron Ridge.

“We have been interacting with MACA on all aspects associated with the Iron Ridge project for well over a year now, and we are pleased that this relationship will continue as we transition to production in the near-term,” he said.

“MACA has vast experience in all aspects of iron ore mining operations and has essentially offered Fenix a one-stop shop for all our service requirements leading up to the transport of the ore from site to the port of Geraldton.”

Located 490 kilometres by road from Geraldton Port, Iron Ridge is Fenix’s flagship iron ore project, with the company expecting to deliver first sales in early 2021.

As of August last year, the Iron Ridge project had a mineral resource of 10 million tonnes of ore at 64.3 per cent iron and an inferred 500,000 tonnes at 64.2 per cent iron, bringing he total resource estimate to 10.5 million tonnes.

Last year, Fenix signed a joint cooperation agreement (JCA) with Geraldton Port to transport up to 1.25 million tonnes of ore per annum to the port.

The company expects to create a total of 350 full time equivalent direct and indirect jobs throughout the supply chain.