The Government of Western Australia has cleared the way for a rail and power supply project in the Pilbara estimated to be worth more than $400 million, and which will generate up to 600 jobs.
Premier and State Development Minister Colin Barnett said that the Government had granted Rio Tinto a special railway licence for a 53km railway line and approved a 220 kV electricity transmission line to connect the new Hope Downs 4 mine to the existing Hope Downs 1 infrastructure.
The Hope Downs 4 mine is being developed by a joint venture between Rio Tinto and Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd, which is operated by Rio Tinto. The rail and power project will be funded, built and operated by Rio Tinto.
“These approvals are the final step for development of the 15 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) Hope Downs 4 iron ore mine, at an estimated total cost of more than $1.2billion,” Mr Barnett said.
“The new mine will create about 1,500 new jobs and Rio Tinto expects first production to commence in the second quarter of 2013.”
Approval for the new mine was granted under the Iron Ore (Hope Downs) Agreement 1992 in July 2011 and the rail and power supply components were approved under the Iron Ore (Hamersley Range) Agreement 1963 in December 2011.
The Premier said the State Government granted the approvals and special railway licence after consideration of impacts of the rail and power infrastructure on affected land holders and on the environment
“During the final six months of 2011, the Government granted approval for iron ore expansion projects in the Pilbara, worth a combined total of almost $10billion,” he said.
