Latest News

Brockman 4 mine in Australia. Satellite image © 2020 Maxar Technologies. Credit: DigitalGlobe / ScapeWare3d / Contributor / Getty Images

Rio Tinto plans to invest $1.8bn (A$2.8bn) in development of the Brockman Syncline 1 (BS1) mine project, extending the life of its iron ore operations in Western Australia (WA).

BS1 is a large-scale investment within the Brockman region, which encompasses Brockman 4 and Greater Nammuld.

The BS1 project has received all necessary state and federal government approvals, with first ore scheduled for 2027.

BS1 will have capacity to process up to 34 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of iron ore, leveraging existing plants.

Construction of the BS1 project, beginning this year, includes a new primary crusher and overland conveyor, as well as a temporary camp for construction workers. Around 1,000 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase.

BS1 is one of several replacement projects that underpin Rio Tinto’s commitment to expand iron ore production in the Pilbara. The other projects include Western Range (expected to begin production in the first half of 2025), Hope Downs 1 and West Angelas (currently in the approvals process).

The Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation (YNAC) has filed a compensation claim against the state of WA, seeking A$1.8bn ($1.1bn) for damages to land and culture due to iron ore mining activities at the Solomon mining hub.

WA is a major global supplier of iron ore, accounting for around half of the world’s sea-borne supply.

The claim includes A$1bn for cultural damage and A$678m for economic loss, according to the Federal Court of Australia filings. The case is significant as it could set a precedent for future claims related to past damages.

The YNAC is targeting the state government for authorising the mining activities, which may lead to the state seeking reimbursement from Fortescue.

The state government, in its final submission, argued that the total compensation for economic loss should be A$128,114 and A$92,957 in interest. It suggested that a fair award for cultural loss would be between A$5m and A$10m.

Workers at Rio Tinto’s Paraburdoo iron-ore mine in the Pilbara region of Australia have launched a majority support petition to negotiate their first collective agreement in more than two decades, potentially setting a precedent for the Pilbara iron ore industry.

The Western Mine Workers Alliance, a collaboration between the Mining and Energy Union and the Australian Workers Union, initiated the petition at the mine.

The petition aims to allow workers to bargain collectively to secure annual pay increases in line with rising living costs.

The demands also include pay equity and a fair and detailed classification system to standardise conditions and facilitate career progression.

The alliance is working to restore worker power in the Pilbara following two decades of de-unionisation that has led to inconsistent standards and conditions, unlike the protections available in the east coast coal industry.

Canada-based gold and copper producer OceanaGold has submitted an application for fast-track approvals for its Waihi North Project, a proposed underground mining project in New Zealand, which includes the Wharekirauponga underground project. Waihi North is located north of OceanaGold’s existing Waihi gold mining operations.

The company anticipates that the project will be fully permitted by the end of 2025, pending any appeals, under New Zealand’s Fast-track Approvals Act 2024, which is designed to expedite major projects with regional or national benefits.

The fast-track application aligns with OceanaGold’s schedule for obtaining approvals by December 2025, with the aim to commence decline and underground development work for Wharekirauponga in 2026.

The company also plans to invest C$40m–45m (A$44m-49.5m) in 2025 in early works that do not require fast-track approvals.

The Australian Government has unveiled the A$1bn ($634m) Green Iron Investment Fund, aimed at establishing Australia as a leading nation in green iron manufacturing.

The fund is designed to advance the production and supply chains of low-emissions iron and steel by backing greenfield projects and stimulating substantial private investment.

It will allocate up to A$500m ($317m) to assist in the transformation of the Whyalla steelworks in South Australia.

A minimum of A$500m will be available to both existing facilities and new projects that aim to enhance the value of the Australia’s iron ore industry domestically.

Australia generated more than A$100bn in export revenue in 2023–24 and its broader iron and steel industries support more than 100,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.