Rio Tinto has announced that it is looking to incrementally increase production capacity at its latest iron ore mine, Gudai-Darri, a process which is expected to cost approximately $130 million.
The $3.1 billion Gudai-Darri mine is located in the Pilbara, Western Australia, and began production in 2022, reaching its planned annual capacity of 43 million tonnes in less than 12 months from first ore.
The planned capacity increase will be achieved through upgrades within the plant including chutes and conveyor belts, as well as utilising an existing incremental crushing and screening facility already on site.
The larger operation will require an additional mining fleet, including haul trucks and diggers, as well as a small expansion of the product stockyards. The capacity increase is subject to environmental, heritage and other relevant approvals.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore Managing Director of Pilbara Mines, Matthew Holcz, said that what Rio Tinto has learnt during the rapid ramp-up of Gudai-Darri has given it the confidence to find better ways to increase capacity at its newest and most technologically advanced mine.
“Rather than taking a capital-intensive approach to replicate existing infrastructure, we have now identified a low-capital pathway to creep capacity to 50 million tonnes a year,” Mr Holcz said.
The capital intensity of any increase in capacity of Gudai-Darri is expected to be around $10 per tonne.
