Rio Tinto and partners invest $733 million in ore mining development in Pilbara

The project will maintain the West Angelas hub's capacity at 35 million tons per year and create more than 1,500 jobs

Rio Tinto, together with partners Mitsui and Nippon Steel, are investing $733 million in the development of the West Angelas Sustaining project as part of the Robe River Joint Venture in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Rio Tinto’s share of the financing is $389 million. The project has received all necessary approvals from federal and regional authorities and involves the development of new iron ore deposits within the West Angelas hub, according to the company’s press release.

The project will maintain the hub’s production capacity at 35 million tonnes of ore per year and extend mining operations for many years to come. The company notes that West Angelas has been a key asset since 2002 and provides a stable supply of high-quality raw materials to global consumers.

Matthew Holch, CEO of Rio Tinto Iron Ore, emphasized that the project is being implemented in partnership not only with Mitsui and Nippon Steel, but also in close cooperation with the Yinhawangka and Ngarlawangga indigenous peoples. Together, they have developed cultural heritage and environmental management plans that will protect local territories and traditions.

The project involves the use of West Angelas’ existing processing infrastructure, the construction of 22 km of new internal roads, and the creation of auxiliary production areas. Ore from the new sites will be transported by autonomous trucks, with first production scheduled for 2027.

Approximately 600 workers will be involved in the construction. The project will subsequently provide employment for approximately 950 full-time specialists at the hub. West Angelas Sustaining is part of a deposit replacement program that maintains the Robe River Joint Venture’s total capacity at around 130 million tons per year.

At the same time, Rio Tinto is promoting a pre-project study of another large-scale deposit, Rhodes Ridge. The first production is planned to start by 2030 with a potential initial capacity of up to 40 million tons per year.

The Robe River joint venture has been operating since 1972. The current composition of participants is as follows: Rio Tinto owns 53%, Mitsui – 33%, Nippon Steel – 14%. The West Angelas project was the second phase of the venture’s development after its launch in Robe Valley and marked its 50th anniversary in 2022.

It should be noted that at the end of the second quarter of 2025, Rio Tinto achieved its highest level of iron ore production in Australia’s Pilbara region since 2018. Total production was 83.7 million tons, up 20% from the previous quarter and 5% year-on-year.