Name of the Project
Western Range iron-ore project.

Location
Pilbara, Western Australia.

Project Owner/s
Rio Tinto (54%) and China Baowu Steel Group Co (46%).

Project Description
Western Range will have a production capacity of 25-million tonnes a year of iron-ore, which will help sustain production of the Pilbara Blend from Rio Tinto’s existing Paraburdoo mining hub.

The project includes construction of a primary crusher and an 18 km conveyor system linking it to the existing Paraburdoo processing plant.

Potential Job Creation
The construction phase will support an estimated 1 600 jobs, with the mine requiring about 800 ongoing operational roles that are expected to be filled by existing workers transitioning from other sites in the Paraburdoo mining hub.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
$2-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
First production is expected in 2025.

Latest Developments
Rio Tinto has reported that the Western Range mine has achieved a construction milestone, with progress surpassing 50%.

The focus has shifted towards crucial tasks such as greenfield crushing and screening, and integrating the Paraburdoo plant.

First ore is on schedule for 2025.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Rio Tinto, email media.enquiries@riotinto.com.