Rio Tinto, Mitsui, and Nippon Steel will jointly invest USD 733 mln to develop new iron ore deposits under the West Angelas Sustaining Project, part of the Robe River Joint Venture in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
The venture, owned by Rio Tinto (53pct), Mitsui (33pct), and Nippon Steel (14pct), has received all required State and Federal approvals. The new deposits will sustain the hub’s annual production capacity of 35 mln tons, extending its operational life.
The project will utilize existing processing facilities and include new infrastructure and 22 km of haul roads. Ore from the new deposits will be transported autonomously, with first production expected in 2027.
It forms part of Rio Tinto’s portfolio of replacement projects supporting about 130 mln tons per annum of capacity in the Pilbara. Meanwhile, pre-feasibility work continues at the large-scale Rhodes Ridge deposit, targeting up to 40 mln tons per year and first ore by 2030.
