Participants in inaugural shipment of silica sand commended

28/12/95

Transport Minister Eric Charlton today congratulated all participants responsible for the inaugural shipment of silica sand through the Port of Albany.

Shippers Austsand Mining, through trading company Tomen, consigned 24,000 tonnes of silica to the vessel Basil Ocean to buyers Tochu in Nagoya, Japan.

Mr Charlton said the shipment represented a significant achievement for Albany and silica sand exports through the port were expected to be between 150,000 and 200,000 tonnes annually, rising to 500,000 tonnes by the year 2000.

"This is the first new cargo out of Albany for many years and has been accomplished because of the close co-operation between Albany's Shire, Town, Port Authority and the Department of Transport," he said.

Mr Charlton said an important resource development like silica sand provided Albany and the region with yet another invaluable export commodity and the economic gains for Western Australia were substantial.

Media contact: Ian Hasleby 321 7333