Rio Tinto’s US$1.4 billion port upgrade at Dampier in Western Australia has been completed on time and on budget with capacity increased by 90%.

Annual capacity at the iron ore port is now 140 million tonnes compared to 74 million tonnes four years ago.

The upgrade was conducted in two phases. Phase A took annual port capacity from 74 million tonnes to 116 million tonnes and Phase B to 140 million tonnes, comprising Parker Point with 94 million tonnes and East Intercourse Island with 46 million tonnes.

The installation of two new ship loaders at the Parker Point wharf allows two vessels to be loaded simultaneously and a 600m extension of the wharf allows up to four vessels to be berthed at the one time, reducing ship waiting time.

The project achieved more than 5 million work man-hours free of lost time injuries and during peak construction Dampier Operations also managed to achieve record tonnages of shipments.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s chief executive Sam Walsh says: “The expansion of Dampier Port is another testimony to the ability of our teams to bring large projects to fruition on time and on budget.

“We are investing heavily to help Rio Tinto take advantage of the strong demand growth in the global market, particularly in China. With our studies of the expansion to 320 million tonnes per annum capacity in the Pilbara, and the Simandou project in Guinea, West Africa, this aggressive ramping up of production to meet that growing demand is set to continue.”

First iron ore from the new Hope Downs joint venture mine was carried by train to the port in December, ready for shipment as part of Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s new product, Pilbara Blend.

Construction of the US$1 billion Hope Downs project was completed in December, three months ahead of schedule. Rio Tinto will undertake a US$71 million feasibility study to assess the Hope Downs 4 deposit as an extension of the existing Hope Downs Joint Venture.

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