Develop Global has awarded a A$275 million engineering, procurement and construction contract to GR Engineering Services Limited to design and build the processing plant at the Yitirrti copper-zinc-silver project in Western Australia, keeping the Pilbara development on track for first production in the June quarter of 2028.

The processing plant will feature a nameplate capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per annum and produce separate copper-silver and zinc concentrates. Total capital costs for Yitirrti are estimated at A$450 million, including the plant construction. The project is forecast to generate an internal rate of return of 37% with a 23-month payback period.

"The award of this contract to GRES is another major milestone on our path to production and cashflow at Yitirrti by mid-2028."

"GRES is the leader in its field and has done an outstanding job at Woodlawn, where it refurbished and upgraded the processing plant. The plant has already achieved steady-state throughput rates and is performing extremely well, particularly given the short time it has been operating."

— Bill Beament, Managing Director

Underground development and site access works are already well advanced at Yitirrti. Development capital is funded through a US$400 million debt facility provided by Trafigura, existing company cash reserves, and operating cash flows from wider operations. Trafigura has also committed to offtake agreements covering copper and zinc concentrates from the project.

Develop operates the Woodlawn copper-zinc mine in New South Wales and holds the Pioneer Dome lithium project in Western Australia. Direct shipping ore lithium sales from Pioneer Dome are targeted for the December quarter of 2026.

Regional activity in the area includes Pilbara Gold expanding its Mt York gold footprint near the project by securing unconditional mineral rights over 367 square kilometres of surrounding ground.

Read the full announcement: EPC Contract Awarded to GRES for Yitirrti