Rio Tinto approves funding for iron ore expansion

The funding will allow dredging contracts to be issued as part of early works on the expansion of the Cape Lambert port (CLB), supporting the Pilbara operations’ overall capacity increase to 330 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).
The dredging is associated with the proposed construction of an additional 1.8 kilometre, four-berth jetty and wharf at Cape Lambert to increase its current annual capacity of 80 million tonnes by a further 100 million tonnes.
Rio Tinto’s planned growth of its Pilbara iron ore operations to 330 mtpa capacity consists of the following steps:
• 225 mtpa by Q1 2011 - Dampier port systems efficiencies (in implementation)
• 230 mtpa by Q2 2012 - Dampier port incremental gains (in feasibility study)
• 280 mtpa by H1 2014 – CLB 1st 50 Mt/a increment (now in feasibility study)
• 330 mtpa by H1 2016 - CLB 2nd 50 Mt/a increment (pre-feasibility completed)
Rio Tinto chief executive Iron Ore and Australia Sam Walsh said the dredging works would help ensure that subsequent decisions on the expansion of operations could be implemented as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“Rio Tinto has a proven track record of managing large-scale iron ore expansion projects, and this decision should be seen in that light. It is important at this stage that we advance this process in an orderly manner, and this decision does that,” Walsh said.
“While the Australian Government’s decision to abandon its Resource Super Profits Tax in favour of the proposed Minerals Resource Rent Tax was a major step forward, we remain cautious over what legislation will finally be in place.”
The dredging works are dependent upon a number of government and other approvals, most notably that of the Robe River joint venture partners with regard to the Cape Lambert port.