$3b investment approved for WA
Further mining investments are set for the Pilbara region, with the Western Australian state government approving a three billion dollar iron ore investment.
Premier and State Development Minister Colin Barnett said the expansion of Rio Tinto’s Nammuldi mine and construction of a 130MW power station at Cape Lambert would help to sustain Western Australia’s strong economic performance.
“This major investment by Rio Tinto will create almost 1,500 construction jobs and secure ongoing employment for more than 700 people,” Mr Barnett said.
“The Nammuldi mine, 60km north-west of Tom Price, includes a major investment in mine infrastructure, which will see iron ore mined below the water table and increase the mine’s production limit from eight to 23 million tonnes a year.”
The Nammuldi project includes construction of two new pits, processing and storage facilities, rail, water and power infrastructure and additional accommodation.
In 2011-2012, iron ore production in Western Australia was worth more than $61 billion and iron ore producers contributed more than $3.8 billion in royalty payments to the state government.