Aquila Resources Ltd says it is continuing to plan the development of a new iron ore export port in Western Australia, despite potential joint venture partner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd putting on hold an associated project Fortescue, Aquila and the Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd (MCC) in March submitted a concept plan to the WA government to jointly develop a multi-billion-dollar port at Anketell Point in the state’s Pilbara region.

The development, near Rio Tinto’s Cape Lambert facilities, would allow Fortescue, Aquila and MCC to export iron ore from their respective projects, without relying on Rio Tinto to give them access to Cape Lambert. Aquila wants the new port and associated rail to support its West Pilbara iron ore project. Fortescue aims to use it to transport iron ore from its Solomon project, which it recently shelved due to a lack of funding support, blaming the federal government’s planned new mining tax.