Australia: Rio Tinto, partners commit $733 million to develop new iron ore deposits in Pilbara

• Move to help keep region’s iron ore output firm at 35 mnt/year
• Construction to begin shortly, 1st production expected in 2027

Rio Tinto and its partners Mitsui & Co. and Nippon Steel Corp. are set to invest $733 million in developing new iron ore deposits at the West Angelas hub in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The project is part of the Robe River Joint Venture, in which Rio Tinto holds a 53% stake, Mitsui 33%, and Nippon Steel 14%. Rio Tinto’s share of the investment is $389 million. The move is aimed at keeping iron ore output steady at around 35 million tonnes (mnt) per year and extending the hub’s operational life.

According to Rio Tinto, securing approvals for the project reinforces the company’s commitment to providing a reliable supply of high-quality ore to global customers. Construction is scheduled to begin shortly, with first production expected in 2027.

The West Angelas Sustaining Project will make use of existing infrastructure while adding 22 kilometres of new internal roads and deploying autonomous haul trucks for ore transport.

Project impact, growth strategy

The project was developed in consultation with the Yinhawangka and Ngarlawangga Traditional Owners, including cultural heritage and environmental management plans to protect local communities and ecosystems.

The investment is part of Rio Tinto’s broader effort to offset declining ore grades and sustain production across its Pilbara network. Earlier this year, the company announced a $1.8 billion expansion at its Brockman hub and continues work on the Rhodes Ridge deposit, expected to come online by 2030.

The West Angelas Sustaining Project will involve mining new areas to maintain production at approximately 35 mnt of steelmaking ingredients each year. The group has obtained all necessary government approvals, and first production is expected to begin in 2027.

In Q2CY’25, Rio Tinto produced 83.7 mnt of iron ore from the Pilbara — its highest since 2018 — underlining the region’s importance to its long-term strategy. Meanwhile, the overall iron ore production for CY’24 was recorded at 328.6 mnt.