Pretoria — A Johannesburg-based Delta Mining Consolidated (DMC) company has won the bid to develop the Western Cluster Iron Ore Deposit in Liberia.

The announcement was made by Liberian President Ellen Johnson during her speech to the legislature earlier this week, according to DMC.

DMC was one of seven companies that submitted a bid for the Western Cluster iron ore deposits in Liberia, according to the Johannesburg-based mining exploration company's web site.

The DMC said it has received no written confirmation from the Liberian government, but "it has been public knowledge for several weeks that the company was on a short list for the tender."

The Western Cluster Iron Ore Deposits consist of the Mano River Iron Ore Deposits, the western portion of Bomi Hills Iron Ore Deposits and the Bea Mountains Iron Ore Deposits.

A Special Purpose Vehicle with funding to enable initial development of the project has been prepared - depending upon official confirmation being received from Liberia's Ministry of Land, Mines and Energy.

In the event that the bid is successful, DMC will move quickly towards the signing of a formal agreement between itself and the Liberian Government.

Following this, the company will be in a position to publicly announce its plans to develop this exciting iron ore project.