Rio Tinto PLC (LSE:RIO) said it delivered the first ore from the Gudai-Darri iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, bringing its first greenfield mine online in over a decade.
With an expected life of more than 40 years and an annual capacity of 43 million tonnes, Gudai-Darri will underpin future production of Rio Tinto’s flagship Pilbara Blend product, said the mining giant.
A feasibility study to support an expansion of this new hub is also progressing, it added.
Production from the mine will continue to ramp up through the remainder of this year and is expected to reach full capacity during 2023.
The mine's commissioning and ramp-up is expected to increase Rio Tinto's iron ore production volumes and improve product mix from the Pilbara in the second half of this year, said the FTSE 100 group.
Although it added that full-year shipments guidance for 2022 remains at 320 to 335 million tonnes subject to risks around the ramp up of new mines, weather and management of cultural heritage.
"I'd like to acknowledge the support of the Traditional Owners, the Banjima People, on whose country Gudai-Darri is situated,” said Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Simon Trott.
Rio Tinto faced widespread criticism and undertook a major management shake-up following the destruction of the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge rock shelters in the Pilbara in 2020, with the company admitting it had breached the trust placed in it by the Traditional Owners of the lands.