Rio Tinto has substantially reduced the scale of two major iron ore projects in the Pilbara to progress environmental approvals and gain backing from traditional owners.
Rio Tinto has substantially reduced the scale of two major iron ore projects in the Pilbara to progress environmental approvals and gain backing from traditional owners.
WA’s Environmental Protection Authority has recommended both the Hope Downs 2 proposal and the Brockman Syncline proposal be approved.
They are among four ‘brownfields’ projects – along with West Angelas and Greater Nammuldi - that Rio is aiming to bring into production between 2026 and 2028.
The Brockman Syncline proposal, located 60 km west-north west of Tom Price, involves the development of new deposits and extensions of existing operations to sustain mining at the Nammuldi-Silvergrass, Brockman 2 and Brockman 4 mines.
Rio has “substantially reduced its proposal” since the original referral in 2019, the EPA said in a report published late yesterday.
The development envelope has been reduced by 14 per cent to 63,343ha while the conceptual footprint has been cut by 20 per cent to 7,896ha by removing several deposits from the scope of the proposal.
Rio has also changed its mine design to allow for protection of significant environmental and cultural values.
Mining exclusion zones have been designed to avoid significant ghost bat caves and significant water bodies such as Plunge Pool and Kurwillinha Pool.
It’s a similar story at the Hope Downs proposal, which involves the development of two new mining pits, namely Hope Downs 2 and Bedded Hilltop, about 80km north-west of Newman.
“The design of the proposal has been altered to balance production goals against environmental and cultural values,” the EPA said.
It added that, after consultation with the Nyiyaparli traditional owners, Rio has implemented multiple changes.
The development envelope has been reduced from 14,085 hectares to 12,409ha though the amount of clearing has increased by 200ha to 4,900ha.
The proposal excludes significant sites such as Weeli Wolli Creek.
Rio has introduced a 100-metre buffer surrounding another cultural site and redesigned infrastructure to avoid direct impacts to all but two listed heritage sites.
One site within the development envelope belonging to the Banjima people has already been cleared after consultation and salvage with the Banjima people and with government approval.
Rio plans to build a sealed road between two of the mining pits to minimise dust emissions from road trains hauling ore.
While Rio is awaiting final approvals for its projects, it has already commenced early works at Hope Downs and recently awarded a contract to NRW Holdings for early works at West Angelas.
Rio has previously acknowledged the Greater Nammuldi project is “starting to diverge from the original development schedule”.
The changes to Rio’s projects come shortly after the EPA revealed that Hancock Prospecting has slashed the size of its proposed Mulga Downs iron ore mine.
Meanwhile, Rio has slightly pared back its workforce at its West Angelas iron ore mine, with 40 staff reportedly let go.
