02.12.2010 | Editor: Marcel Dröttboom
London, United Kingdom – Rio Tinto has approved a further USD 1.2 billion iron ore investment in its drive to lift annual production capacity in Western Australia’s Pilbara region to 283 million tonnes per year. The capital will be used for significant expansions at the Brockman 4 and Western Turner Syncline mines.
This latest development is part of Rio Tinto’s broader plan to expand capacity by more than 50 per cent over the next five years to 333 million tonnes per year. The mining company has announced new investment of USD 7.2 billion (Rio Tinto share USD 5.1 billion) in the Pilbara since July this year. Rio Tinto chief executive Iron Ore and Australia, Sam Walsh said the expanded mines would provide the bulk of the additional throughput for the recently announced US$3.1 billion rail and port works around Cape Lambert.
The Brockman 4 mine will be expanded from an annual capacity of 22 to 40 million tonnes per year. The mine is currently ramping to reach its first phase capacity in the first half of 2011. Only opened in September, within three years it will become Rio Tinto’s second largest iron ore mine. The Western Turner Syncline mine will be expanded from its current capacity of 6 to 15 million tonnes er year.
The two projects represent the first two of three mine developments to expand mine capacity to 283 million tonnes per yer by the fourth quarter of 2013. The third mine earmarked for expansion as part of this programme, Nammuldi is currently under study, with an investment decision expected in 2011.
The Brockman 4 Phase 2 project includes an expansion of the village, additional mine fleet and construction of a primary crusher and a 4- kilometre overland conveyor. The Western Turner Syncline expansion incorporates the construction of a primary crusher and a 20 kilometre overland conveyor to deliver ore to the Tom Price primary stockpiles. Existing Tom Price infrastructure will be utilised, including the high grade and low grade processing plants, stockyards, train load-out and on-site facilities. The first phase will provide 15 million tonnes per year capacity from the second half of 2013.
Both developments will require a number of Government and regulatory approvals.
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