Business
Robe River JV invest $733m to extend West Angelas
Rio Tinto, along with Mitsui and Nippon Steel, will invest $733 million in the West Angelas Sustaining Project, with Rio Tinto's share being $389 million. This project aims to develop new iron ore deposits within the West Angelas hub, maintaining its 35 million tonnes annual production capacity. The project, expected to produce first ore in 2027, will create approximately 600 construction jobs and sustain around 950 full-time equivalent roles once operational. The West Angelas Sustaining Project is part of a larger plan to maintain a combined total capacity of about 130Mtpa. Disclaimer*
About this update from Rio Tinto Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\nNotice to ASX/LSE \n\n \nRobe River Joint Venture to invest $733 million to extend West Angelas iron ore mine in Western Australia\n07 October 2025\n \nRio 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.\n \nThe project, to develop new iron ore deposits in the West Angelas hub, has now received all necessary State and Federal Government approvals.\n \nThe deposits will maintain the West Angelas hub's total annual production capacity of 35 million tonnes, extending mining activity for years to come. \n \nRio 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.\n \n\"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.\"\n \nRio 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.\n \nThe project will leverage existing West Angelas processing infrastructure and includes the construction of new non-process infrastructure precincts and 22-kilometres of haul roads.\n \nOre mined at the new deposits will be autonomously trucked to the West Angelas hub, with first ore scheduled for 2027.\n \nAbout 600 jobs will be created during construction. Once operational, the project will help sustain a workforce of about 950 full ti...