Australia-based miner Rio Tinto has announced that it has completed the first phase of the major expansion of its integrated iron ore operations in Pilbara, Western Australia and officially opened the expanded facilities at Cape Lambert.
The expansion will help the overall capacity of Rio Tinto's Pilbara iron ore operations to rise to 290 million mt per year, the largest iron ore operation in Australia and the second largest in the world. The new Cape Lambert wharf delivered its first shipment in late August. The safe and efficient ramp-up schedule is on track to reach a full run-rate by the end of the first half of 2014.
According to Rio Tinto's statement, the second phase expansion of the port, rail and power infrastructure to bring the capacity to 360 million mt per year is underway. A number of options for mine capacity growth are under evaluation including incremental tonnages from low-cost productivity improvements, expansion of existing mines and the potential development of new mines.