Rio Tinto Iron Ore CEO Chris Salisbury speaks at the grand opening of the Silvergrass iron ore
project in Western Australia.

“Silvergrass is a great example of our value-over-volume approach in action as the mine will deliver the high-quality, lowcost ore used to maintain the world-class premium Pilbara Blend product our customers love so much,” said Rio Tinto Chief Executive J-S Jacques. “Silvergrass is a further demonstration of our long-standing commitment to the Pilbara region in Western Australia where we’ve invested more than $20 billion over the past decade.”

Silvergrass is a satellite deposit located adjacent to the Nammuldi mine and is part of the Greater Nammuldi precinct. The brownfields expansion project will lower mine operating costs as a result of the construction of a 9-kilometer conveyor system that will replace traditional road haulage routes linking Silvergrass to the processing plant at Nammuldi.

“Silvergrass is another Rio Tinto project delivering value for Western Australia with design, construction and commissioning all undertaken by WA companies,” Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Chris Salisbury. “Dozens of local businesses have benefitted from the purchase of major items including modular buildings, gantry cranes and a waste water treatment plant.”

A celebration was also held in Perth to mark the 30-year anniversary of Rio Tinto and Sinosteel Corp.’s historic Channar Mining Joint Venture. Rio Tinto hosted Sinosteel President Liu Andong and former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, who was present at the original signing ceremony in 1987.

“The strong partnership we have forged with Sinosteel over the past 30 years is one of Australia’s most significant trading relationships,” Salisbury said. “It has seen Rio Tinto deliver more than 250 million tons of iron ore to China, undoubtedly helping transform the Chinese economy.”