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Robe River Joint Venture to Invest US$733 Million for Extension of West Angelas Iron Ore Mine
10/07/2025 - The Robe River Joint Venture, composed of Rio Tinto, Mitsui and Nippon Steel, will invest US$733 million to develop the West Angelas Sustaining Project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
The companies said the project to develop new iron ore deposits in the West Angelas hub has received all necessary state and federal government approvals. These deposits are expected to maintain the hub’s production capacity of 35 million metric tons annually.
“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,” said Mattew Holcz, iron ore chief executive at Rio Tinto.
The project will use existing West Angelas processing infrastructure and the construction of new nonprocess infrastructure precincts and 22 km of haul roads. The ore mined at the new deposits will be brought to the hub. The first ore is scheduled for 2027, the companies said.
About 600 jobs will be created during construction; once operational, the project will sustain a workforce of about 950 full-time jobs at the hub.
Rio Tinto said it worked closely with the local Yinhawangka and Ngarlawangga peoples to jointly design the Social Cultural Heritage Management Plans for the project. The purpose is to ensure the ongoing protection and management of cultural heritage and the environment.
The companies said work is also progressing on the prefeasibility study for Rhodes Ridge, an undeveloped iron ore deposit. They expect an initial capacity of up to 40 million metric tons annually and fire ore by 2030.
“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,” said Mattew Holcz, iron ore chief executive at Rio Tinto.
The project will use existing West Angelas processing infrastructure and the construction of new nonprocess infrastructure precincts and 22 km of haul roads. The ore mined at the new deposits will be brought to the hub. The first ore is scheduled for 2027, the companies said.
About 600 jobs will be created during construction; once operational, the project will sustain a workforce of about 950 full-time jobs at the hub.
Rio Tinto said it worked closely with the local Yinhawangka and Ngarlawangga peoples to jointly design the Social Cultural Heritage Management Plans for the project. The purpose is to ensure the ongoing protection and management of cultural heritage and the environment.
The companies said work is also progressing on the prefeasibility study for Rhodes Ridge, an undeveloped iron ore deposit. They expect an initial capacity of up to 40 million metric tons annually and fire ore by 2030.
