CuDeco Limited announced the signing of a five-year Mine to Port Transport and Logistics Agreement, with a five-year extension option, with Townsville Bulk Storage and Handling (TBSH). The ne w logistics contract supplements the recent signing of an agreement with TBSH for the supply and delivery of bulk fuel to the Rock lands mine in Cloncurry, north -west Queensland. The fuel contract allows TBSH to supply and deliver up to 750,000 litres of diesel per week, to fuel CuDeco's constructed 28 MW cummings power station, mining fleet and light vehicles.

CuDeco Managing Director Peter Hutchison said the new agreement reflected CuDeco's policy of maximising the economic benefits of the Rocklands project for the region, including a commitment to employing Cloncurry residents. Under the agreement, Rocklands concentrate will be shipped in closed half-height containers from the mine site through to Townsville, where it will be loaded onto ships for delivery to local and international markets by sea. The entire logistics chain will be managed by TBSH, including transport of up to 850,000 tonnes of copper and cobalt/pyrite concentrates (+including gold/silver credits), over the first five years of production from the Rocklands mine site.

The agreement includes: Loading of concentrate product at the Rocklands mine site, in closed dust-proof containers; Road transport of the dust-proof containers between Cloncurry and Townsville; Storage of concentrate in closed containers at TBSH depot in Townsville; and Direct loading of concentrate product onto ships at the Port of Townsville using rotainer technology.