Rio Tinto Expanding Cape Lambert Port
The early construction works at CapeLambert are dependent upon a number ofgovernment and other approvals, includingthe approval of Rio Tinto’s Robe Riverjoint-venture partners. A final investmentdecision is expected to be made by theend of 2010.
Rio Tinto’s investments in export portfacilities in Western Australia are beingmade in support of an overall expansion ofiron ore production capacity at its Pilbaraoperations to 330 million mt/y. The companycurrently has nameplate productioncapacity of 220 million mt/y in the Pilbaraand expects production during 2010 to beclose to that total.
The timeline for Rio Tinto’s planned portcapacity expansions in Western Australiaincludes the following interim targets:
• 225 million mt/y by the first quarter of2011 based on port systems efficienciescurrently being implemented at Dampierport;
• 230 million mt/y by the second quarterof 2012 based on incremental gains atDampier port, currently in feasibilitystudy;
• 280 million mt/y by the first half of2014 based on the addition of an initial50-million-mt/y increment to CapeLambert capacity, currently in feasibilitystudy; and
• 330 million mt/y by the first half of2016 based on the addition of a second50-million-mt/y increment at CapeLambert, for which the prefeasibilitystudy has been completed.