Company's core obligations
Engineering and environmental investigations (Clause 4): The Company must continue field and engineering studies and submit detailed proposals to the Minister in accordance with Clause 6 before commencing major works.
Proposal approval process (Clauses 6, 7): Before carrying out significant works, the Company must submit detailed proposals in prescribed form covering engineering, social, environmental, Aboriginal heritage and other matters. The Minister must approve or determine proposals within prescribed timeframes. Approved proposals are the gateway to commencing work.
Production limit (Clause 10): The Company must not produce more than 15,000,000 tonnes of iron ore per annum for transportation from the mining lease, nor employ more than 150 persons in the mine workforce, without prior Ministerial consent and approval of expanded proposals. Production above 30 million tonnes requires additional preconditions, including satisfaction of metallised agglomerates processing obligations (Clause 23).
Mining lease application (Clause 11): The Company must apply for a mining lease within three months of all proposals being approved, and the State must cause the lease to be granted subject to native title law constraints.
Environmental monitoring and reporting (Clause 13): The Company must carry out continuous monitoring of environmental management measures and submit annual brief reports and triennial detailed reports to the Minister.
Labour and training (Clause 14): The Company must employ Western Australian labour to the fullest extent reasonably practicable, use State and local government training facilities, and give priority to Aboriginal persons for training and employment.
Infrastructure (Clauses 8, 14, 15, 16): The Company is obliged to share access to private roads and consider use of existing airports. New railway construction must comply with State requirements. Under Clause 12B (inserted by First Variation Agreement), infrastructure sharing obligations apply to Relevant Infrastructure.
Water supply (Clause 18): The Company must use water as efficiently as reasonably practicable and must not waste water.
Accommodation (Clause 19): Accommodation for the mine workforce at the mine site must meet applicable standards.
Metallised agglomerates (Clause 23): The Agreement includes an obligation on the Company to investigate and, subject to feasibility, to establish within Western Australia plant for the production of metallised agglomerates (a value-add processing step). This obligation is subject to detailed feasibility and government approval processes and may be modified.
Community and social benefits (Clause 9C, inserted by Third Variation Agreement): The Company must prepare and implement community and social benefits plans, engage with Aboriginal communities and government, and report on the outcomes of initiatives.
Local industry participation (Clause 9D, inserted by Third Variation Agreement): The Company must prepare a local industry participation plan and annual reports documenting procurement of WA goods and services.
State's core obligations
Tenures (Clause 11): The State must cause mining leases and associated licences to be granted on application, subject to compliance with native title law.
Non-discrimination (Clause 29): The State must not impose, and must not permit its agencies or authorities to impose, discriminatory taxes, rates or charges on the Company's property, products or activities.
Non-resumption (Clause 30): The State must not resume the Company's infrastructure or property during the Agreement's currency without consent, and must not create or grant rights over leased lands that would unduly prejudice the Company's activities.
Guarantee of Agreement benefits (Clause 28): The State must ensure that the Company's rights under the Agreement will not be derogated by any Act or other measure.