Rio to spend $US230m on Dampier capacity

Rio Tinto will invest $US230 million ($242.63 million) to increase capacity at its Dampier Port facility by five million tonnes per annum, taking it to 230 Mt/a by the first quarter of 2012.

Rio Tinto says the additional tonnes will come from existing west Pilbara operations at Nammuldi and Brockman 2, without any additional investment in those mines.

Rio Tinto chief executive Australia Sam Walsh said the expansion positioned the company well to move to 330 Mt/a capacity and beyond.

"Rio Tinto's Parker Point facility at Dampier port is our single largest and busiest port operation," he said on Friday.

"We will actively manage this incremental expansion to maintain production and expansion schedules, consistent with our record of orderly and timely delivery of additional iron ore supply."

Rio Tinto said the port upgrade would increase the Parker Point facility's shiploading capacity, with associated increases in rail stock.

The second stage of Rio's 330 Mt/a growth program consists of and upgrade to 225 Mt/a by the end of Q1 2001 followed by incremental upgrades until the second half of 2015 when the 330 Mt/a figure is expected to be reached.