The Groote Eylandt Mining Company operation (GEMCO), located on the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria off the Australian coast, produces high-grade
manganese ore.

Whittens was awarded the civil component of this expansion project which comprised the following works:

• Demolition of existing concrete structures
• Provision of bulk earthworks and structural concrete construction to the port, processing plant areas
• Installation of the HDPE pipelines and concrete remedial works.

Whittens provided a concrete batch plant on site which was a more economical solution than using the incumbent concrete supplier on the island. Rock for the coarse aggregates was sourced from Groote Eylandt and crushed on site. Fine aggregates were sourced from the mainland (Darwin) and transported to the island by barge. Whittens engaged Technicrete Pty Ltd to provide specialist technical consulting services to achieve suitable concrete mix designs using the available raw materials.