As some of Rio Tinto’s longest-running Pilbara mines begin to wind down, the company has commenced a new chapter in the iron ore heartland of Western Australia.
The Western Range mine, located just 10 minutes from Paraburdoo Airport, officially joined Rio’s Paraburdoo hub, strengthening the future of the region’s iron ore supply.
Australian Mining was on the ground to witness the official opening of the mine, which sits against a backdrop of rugged Pilbara terrain, its red earth cut by deep gorges and geological formations.
Snaking across the land is one of Western Range’s most impressive features, an 18km long conveyor system that connects the site’s primary crusher to the Paraburdoo processing facility.
Western Range is more than an engineering feat; it’s a symbol of legacy and renewal.
The mine is one of Rio Tinto’s key replacement projects in the Pilbara, supporting continuity of its high-quality Pilbara Blend iron ore as nearby deposits become depleted.
The site contains two key deposits, 36W–50W and 55W–66W, located within the Hamersley Basin and hosted in the Brockman Iron Formation.
Western Range is also the next step in the long-standing relationship between Rio Tinto and China Baowu Steel Group, the world’s largest steel producer.
A $US2 billion ($3.6 billion) development, the mine is a 54:46 joint venture (JV) between Rio Tinto and Baowu, marking a continuation of the companies’ partnership that began in 2002 to develop the Eastern Range deposits.
Then Rio Tinto chief executive officer Jakob Stausholm said the Western Range mine is a significant milestone for the company’s future in the Pilbara.
“I’m particularly proud of the work we’ve done with the Yinhawangka People to develop Western Range and we’ll continue to work closely together,” Stausholm said.
“Partnering with Baowu ensures our biggest customer directly benefits with a consistent, dedicated supply of Rio Tinto’s world leading Pilbara Blend iron ore.
“It is partnerships like these that have helped build Western Range. Partnerships are part of a strategy that is integrated into the very fabric of Rio Tinto’s history, a story that is more than 150 years old and is intrinsically linked to Australia and China.
“This is especially true here in WA, where we have been operating for more than 60 years. In that time, collaboration has been the driving force behind the Pilbara’s extraordinary iron ore industry.”
With a planned capacity of 25 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), Western Range is expected to play a key role in sustaining production at the Paraburdoo hub, which also includes the Paraburdoo, Channar and Eastern Range mines.
Construction and job creation
Construction of Western Range’s primary crusher and conveyor system commenced in early 2023 and was completed ahead of schedule, with first ore produced in March 2025.
The project supported 1600 construction jobs and has created 800 ongoing operational roles, with many filled by workers transitioning from other sites within the Paraburdoo hub.
To mark the official opening, WA Premier Roger Cook and Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King joined Rio Tinto and Baowu executives, as well as Yinhawangka Traditional Owners, to commemorate the event.
Cook said the commissioning of Western Range represents a significant achievement for Rio Tinto and the state.
“The new mine provides stability for Paraburdoo’s residential and FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) employees and the ongoing viability of the town,” he said. “It strengthens the state and national economies through royalties and taxes.
“My government will continue to back in our resources industry, which is creating quality jobs for Western Australians while helping us maintain the standard of life we all enjoy.
“I also want to make special mention of our local WA businesses that brought this project from vision to reality, with about a billion dollars’ worth of contracts awarded to them.”
Cook highlighted WA’s growth as an international iron ore producer over the last few decades, becoming a vital contributor to global steel supply.
“Western Range will help to continue this proud legacy into the future,” he said. “WA is proud of the strong bilateral relationship we have developed with China during this time. It is a bond built on strong economic ties.”
King said Western Range will keep the Pilbara at the centre of Australia’s resources story.
“Projects like Western Range will keep that engine running for future generations of Australians,” King said.
King harkened back to the early 1980s, an important time for relations between Australia and China.
“I’m very proud that it was a great Western Australian … Prime Minister Bob Hawke who held talks with Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang in 1984, leading to China’s first investment in this great iron ore industry,” she said.
“It’s been so important to both of our countries and our host today, Rio Tinto, famously welcomed Prime Minister Hawke and the Chinese General Secretary Hu Yaobang when they travelled here to Paraburdoo in 1985.”
King added that mining has been at the heart of the relationship between the nations ever since the days of the Australian gold rush. The trade and the collaboration it promotes and the friendship it fosters make both nations stronger.
A new model for Indigenous engagement
Western Range is also Rio Tinto’s first project to feature a co-designed Social, Cultural and Heritage Management Plan (SCHMP) with the Yinhawangka Traditional Owners.
In keeping with the SCHMP, announced in 2022 with the Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation, Western Range has been designed to protect significant cultural and heritage values in the area.
“First Nations communities are a core partner in the mining industry of this country,” King said. “Genuine ongoing engagement is essential to sector sustainability.
“I commend Rio Tinto, China Baowu Group and the Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation for helping us reach today’s really important national milestone.”
Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation chair Robyn Hayden said the partnership represents a new chapter.
“The opening of the Western Range mine represents a shift in how our heritage is being recognised and respected,” she said.
“We acknowledge the work Rio Tinto has done to change how they engage with us, and the steps they’ve taken to build a stronger, more honest partnership.
“This is a meaningful beginning, and we stand ready to walk forward together.”
Baowu Group chair Hu Wangming said Western Range is a vivid example of what can be achieved when multiple partners unite to overcome challenges and forge ahead together.
“The ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi once said that a promising cause may seem simple in the beginning, yet proves great on completion,” Wangming said.
“This project is not only a leap in scale, but a triumph of shared conviction.
“On behalf of China Baowu, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the construction workers, project teams and partners who made this possible.”
Investing in the Pilbara
Looking to the future, Rio Tinto and Baowu have agreed to a long-term sales agreement covering up to 126.5Mt of iron ore over approximately 13 years, reflecting Baowu’s 46 per cent interest in the JV.
The major miner is also progressing work on its Rhodes Ridge development in the Pilbara, targeting an initial capacity of 40Mtpa and first ore in 2030.
The company expects to invest more than $13 billion into new mines, plants and equipment across the Pilbara between 2025 and 2027, building on the $8.5 billion spent between 2022 and 2024.
“As we open Western Range, we’re not just unveiling a new operation,” Stausholm said.
“We’re celebrating the next chapter in our enduring partnership with Baowu, a relationship that extends beyond mining.
“We’re partnering with Baowu, universities, governments, and with industry to decarbonise the whole steel chain and reduce emissions to secure the future for this important industry.”
Stausholm said this will not be possible without the collective knowledge, courage and commitment created by meaningful partnerships.
As Rio Tinto and its partners embark on a new chapter at Western Range, there is sure to be plenty of developments to come from the major miner’s ambitious Pilbara plans.