Rio Tinto says its $US1.4 billion ($1.563 billion) Dampier Port upgrade project in Western Australia has been completed on time and on budget.
Capacity at the iron ore port has increased by 90 per cent, from 74 million tonnes four years ago to a current capacity of 140 million tonnes per year.
During peak construction, Dampier operations managed to achieve record tonnages of shipments.
The installation of two new ship loaders at the Parker Point wharf allows two vessels to be loaded simultaneously while a 600 metre extension of the wharf allows up to four vessels to be berthed at the one time, reducing ship waiting time.
First iron ore from the Hope Downs mine, a joint venture with Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting, was carried by train to Dampier Port in December, ready for shipment as part of Rio Tinto's new product, Pilbara Blend.
In December, Rio Tinto announced a $US71 million ($79.26 million) feasibility study to assess the Hope Downs 4 deposit as an extension of the existing Rio-managed joint venture.
The project is part of Rio's program to expand its annual Pilbara iron ore capacity to 320 million tonnes per annum by 2012.
"With our studies of the expansion to 320 million tonne per annum capacity in the Pilbara, and the Simandou project in Guinea, West Africa, this aggressive ramping up of production to meet ... growing demand is set to continue,'' Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Sam Walsh said.
Capacity at the iron ore port has increased by 90 per cent, from 74 million tonnes four years ago to a current capacity of 140 million tonnes per year.
During peak construction, Dampier operations managed to achieve record tonnages of shipments.
The installation of two new ship loaders at the Parker Point wharf allows two vessels to be loaded simultaneously while a 600 metre extension of the wharf allows up to four vessels to be berthed at the one time, reducing ship waiting time.
First iron ore from the Hope Downs mine, a joint venture with Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting, was carried by train to Dampier Port in December, ready for shipment as part of Rio Tinto's new product, Pilbara Blend.
In December, Rio Tinto announced a $US71 million ($79.26 million) feasibility study to assess the Hope Downs 4 deposit as an extension of the existing Rio-managed joint venture.
The project is part of Rio's program to expand its annual Pilbara iron ore capacity to 320 million tonnes per annum by 2012.
"With our studies of the expansion to 320 million tonne per annum capacity in the Pilbara, and the Simandou project in Guinea, West Africa, this aggressive ramping up of production to meet ... growing demand is set to continue,'' Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Sam Walsh said.