Robe River JV to invest $733m to extend Western Australia iron ore mine

(Posted on 08/10/25)

Rio Tinto, Mitsui and Nippon Steel will invest $733 million1 (Rio Tinto share $389 million) to develop the West Angelas Sustaining Project, part of the Robe River Joint Venture in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

The project, to develop new iron ore deposits in the West Angelas hub, has now received all necessary State and Federal Government approvals.

The deposits will maintain the West Angelas hub’s total annual production capacity of 35 million tonnes, extending mining activity for years to come.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Matthew Holcz said: "The West Angelas Sustaining Project is built on strong and committed partnerships, both with the joint venture members Mitsui and Nippon Steel, as well as the Yinhawangka and Ngarlawangga Peoples.

"The West Angelas hub has been an integral part of Rio Tinto Iron Ore since 2002. Securing these approvals ensures ongoing investment in the hub as we continue to supply high-quality, reliable iron ore to meet our global customers' demand now and into the future."

Rio Tinto worked closely with the Yinhawangka and Ngarlawangga Peoples to co-design Social Cultural Heritage Management Plans for the West Angelas Sustaining Project to ensure the ongoing protection and management of cultural heritage and the environment.

The project will leverage existing West Angelas processing infrastructure and includes the construction of new non-process infrastructure precincts and 22-kilometres of haul roads.

Ore mined at the new deposits will be autonomously trucked to the West Angelas hub, with first ore scheduled for 2027.

About 600 jobs will be created during construction. Once operational, the project will help sustain a workforce of about 950 full time equivalent roles at the West Angelas hub.

The West Angelas Sustaining Project is part of Rio Tinto’s tranche of replacement projects that underpin the company’s ongoing commitment to the Pilbara, and which will have combined total capacity of about 130Mtpa2.

Additionally, work is well progressed on the pre-feasibility study for Rhodes Ridge, one of the world’s largest and highest quality undeveloped iron ore deposits, which is targeting an initial capacity of up to 40Mtpa and first ore by 2030.

Latest News

Pilbara production record as Rio Tinto releases Q2 results

Rio Tinto has driven performance to achieve 3% YoY CuEq1 growth in the first half of 2026.Chief Executive... Read more

Record iron ore production helps strengthen BHP growth pipeline

BHP have released its Operational Review for the year ended 30 June 2026.Chief Executive Officer, Brandon... Read more

Stranded sulphur cargoes in Gulf face mounting corrosion risk, warns Brookes Bell

Bulk carriers carrying elemental sulphur cargoes in the Strait of Hormuz are at significant risk of... Read more

BHP and Faraday Copper sign definitive San Manuel agreement

Further to BHP’s announcement in February, BHP, through a wholly owned subsidiary, has executed... Read more

Urea price dive hits Australian grain suppliers

Australia’s Federal Government's fertiliser support package has come under scrutiny as global... Read more

SSAB pauses work at construction site in Luleå

SSAB has once again paused work at the construction site for its new steel mill in Luleå, Sweden... Read more

Trafigura issues USD500 million senior bond

Trafigura Group Pte Ltd. has announced the issuance of a USD500 million senior Reg S bond with a five... Read more

NGFA welcomes Senate Farm Bill proposal

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) in the USA has welcomed the release of Senate Agriculture... Read more

Agreement paves way to deliver 2.7 million tonnes of additional copper production

Anglo American plc, through its 50.1%-owned subsidiary, Anglo American Sur S.A., and Codelco, have announced... Read more

SSAB and partners launch closed loop steel recycling initiative in US

SSAB Americas, The Greenbrier Companies and Alter Trading are partnering on a circular economy project... Read more