Australia: Rio Tinto, Baowu kick off iron ore output at Western Range with Yinhawangka People’s support

• Western Range mine has capacity of up to 25 mtpa
• First mine co-designed with Yinhawangka People

Rio Tinto and the China Baowu Group have officially launched the $2-billion Western Range iron ore mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, marking a major milestone in resource development and cultural partnership. The mine, jointly owned by Rio Tinto (54%) and Baowu (46%), has a capacity of up to 25 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) and is set to support the Paraburdoo mining hub for the next 20 years.

The opening ceremony was attended by Western Australia Premier Roger Cook, Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King, and the Yinhawangka Traditional Owners, including Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation Chairwoman Robyn Hayden. The mine is Rio Tinto’s first to feature a co-designed social, cultural, and heritage management plan (SCHMP) with the traditional owners, reflecting a renewed commitment to respecting Indigenous heritage.

The partnership between Rio Tinto and Baowu in the Pilbara dates back to 2002, starting with the Bao-HI joint venture to develop Eastern Range in the Hamersley Ranges.

Completed on time and on budget, the project includes a new primary crusher and an 18-kilometre (km) conveyor connected to the existing Paraburdoo processing facility. Notably, first ore was processed in March 2025, with Western Range forming part of a broader $13 billion investment plan in the Pilbara from 2025 to 2027.

Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm highlighted the collaboration with the Yinhawangka People and long-term customer Baowu, calling the project a key part of Rio Tinto’s strategy to maintain production in the Pilbara. Baowu Chairman Hu Wangming emphasised the partnership as a model for China-Australia cooperation and sustainable development.

Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore production stood at 69.8 mnt in Q1CY’25. On a q-o-q basis, production fell 19% from 86.5 mnt in Q4CY’24, primarily due to disruptions caused by four tropical cyclones, which collectively resulted in an estimated loss of 13 mnt. The miner has set a Pilbara iron ore shipment guidance of 323-338 mnt for CY’25. However, Pilbara’s iron ore shipments are expected to be at the lower end of guidance due to the losses sustained from the four cyclones in Q1.