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Rio Tinto boss Simon Trott.

MiningCommentsPremiumSimon Trott’s $15b mission to slim down Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto’s new chief Simon Trott has unveiled his vision for a ‘sharper’ and ‘simpler’ mining giant that promises to bank up to $15 billion mostly through offloading projects, and dropping corporate bloat.

Simone Grogan

The West Australian reported on Tuesday that the 299m-long carrier had been left in limbo for three weeks off the coast as it waited for first cargoes from Simandou.

MiningCommentsPremiumFirst ship from giant ‘Pilbara killer’ finally sets sail

The first commercial shipment of iron ore from Rio Tinto’s massive new Simandou joint-venture mine in Guinea is finally on its way to China.

Katharine Gemmell and Weilun Soon

Rio Tinto chief executive Simon Trott.

Iron orePremiumSlow boat to China for Rio’s maiden Simandou delivery

Iron ore giant Simandou could be in for a slow awakening as the vessel being loaded with maiden tonnes from the closely-watched Rio Tinto venture ticks into its third week anchored off the coast of Guinea.

Simone Grogan

Rita Saffioti’s post-election budget baked in a conservative iron ore price of $US72 per tonne, amid concerns about the impact of Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs and slowing economic growth in China.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
state politicsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Iron ore windfall triggers new health and housing promise

A resurgent iron ore price is poised to deliver Western Australia a $2 billion Christmas present, as the State Budget reaps a royalty reward.

Jessica Page

Element Zero has officially opened it's Green Iron plant in Malaga. PIctured is Element Zero Chief Technology Officer Bart Kolodziejczyk Justin Benson-Cooper

MiningStart-up founder extends olive branch to Fortescue

One of Element Zero’s founders is keen for his start-up to work with Fortescue, a day after settling a legal battle that involved the iron ore giant spying on his family.

Adrian Rauso

LIANYUNGANG, CHINA - MARCH 4, 2023 - Imported iron ore is unloaded and stacked at the port of Lianyungang, East China's Jiangsu province, March 4, 2023. Lianyungang Port is an important iron ore import port in China and the largest iron ore import port in Jiangsu. (Photo credit should read CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

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BHP keeps the ore flowing to China despite fresh ban

The mining giant is continuing to ship iron ore from the Pilbara to China at normal rates despite its protracted contract negotiations with Beijing having supposedly deteriorated.

Adrian Rauso

Port Hedland harbour.

Iron orePremiumIron ore shipments from Port Hedland hit October record

 Iron ore shipments from a major Australian export terminal rose to a record high for October, as Chinese demand proved resilient despite economic headwinds.

Katharine Gemmell

Police and SafeWork officials will investigate a death at a major steelworks plant. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

Iron orePremiumWorker killed after steel beam strike at major plant

A contractor has lost his life after a crane dropped a beam at a steelworks undergoing a $1.15 billion blast furnace reline.

Callum Godde

Rio Tinto has signed a $35 million deal to support a green iron demonstration plant in southwest WA. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

Iron orePremiumMining giant reveals deal to turn iron and steel green

One of Australia's largest mining companies will pause its plans to produce greener iron and invest $35 million in emerging local technology.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

Roger Cook attends the unveiling of the BioIron pilot plant in June last year.

MiningCommentsPremiumRio Tinto’s green steel ambitions suffer major setback

Plans to produce iron using agricultural waste in Perth’s south from next year are no longer on the cards.

Adrian Rauso

BHP WA FIFO workers boarding a plane. Richard Wainwright

MiningPremiumBHP’s Xmas roster loss a threat for local miners

One of Perth’s most prominent industrial relations lawyers believes BHP’s defeat in a Christmas roster dispute over east could have far-reaching consequences for WA businesses.

Adrian Rauso

Former FMG COO Greg Lilleyman with a CAT 789D.

MiningLilleyman pours millions into Fortescue iron ore rival

Former Rio Tinto and Fortescue heavy hitter Greg Lilleyman is a cornerstone investor for Genmin’s $18.3 million capital raising to develop an iron ore mine in Africa.

Adrian Rauso

Research suggests Australia could lead the world in green iron exports. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

Iron orePremiumOne state could help Australia lead green metals race

Australia could help to reduce carbon emissions around the world using green metals but one state is likely to play a bigger role than others.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

Rio Tinto’s Simandou iron ore project in West Africa: Supplied/Rio Tinto

Iron orePremiumPilbara’s new iron ore rival Simandou fires up

Guinea has started shipping iron ore from Simandou, the site of the world’s largest reserve of the mineral.

Ougna Camara

Karara mine was the State’s first big magnetite project.

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WA mine swaps locals with Chinese workers, faces tax probe

Senior employees at Ansteel’s Mid West iron ore operation are being replaced with more than 40 managers and technical specialists parachuted in from China. The miner also faces Australian Tax Office scrutiny.

Adrian Rauso

Built Robotics testing “autonomous piling systems” at the half-built 190 megawatt Cloudbreak solar farm.

MiningPremiumFortescue gets more taxpayer cash for green energy

The Federal Government will dish out $45 million to support Fortescue’s renewable energy trials in the Pilbara while chasing a separate $45m package it gave to the iron ore miner.

Adrian Rauso

(L-R) Godrey Taylor, Rick Cullen, Catriona Macleod, Godfrey Taylor and Sally Bruce.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
MiningPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Law firm in Rinehart’s huge royalty battle acquired

One of the local law firms feasting on a high-stakes stoush between Gina Rinehart and two rival WA iron ore dynasties has been bought out.

Adrian Rauso

Repairs and upgrades to the Onslow Iron private road were completed last month, according to MinRes.

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Onslow Iron optimism drives MinRes share price surge

Mineral Resources plans to boost the maximum capacity of its key mining operation and believes it has learnt from ‘painful experience’ how to handle the next unforgiving Pilbara wet season. 

Adrian Rauso

Mining trucks at the Roy Hill operations.

MiningRinehart’s Roy Hill follows Atlas Iron with profit slump

Annual profit produced by the crown jewel of Gina Rinehart’s Pilbara iron ore empire has nearly halved but still remains well above $1 billion.

Adrian Rauso

Atlas Iron trucks on site.

MiningCommentsPremiumProfit at Rinehart’s Atlas Iron falls to $260m

Atlas Iron posted a net profit of $260 million for the 2025 financial year ‘despite major production interruptions’ caused by cyclone Zelia.

Adrian Rauso

A train loaded with iron ore departs the BHP Yandi Mine in the Pilbara, Western Australia. (AAP Image/BHP)

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Hundreds of WA workers at BHP mine on the chopping block

Scores of jobs are set to go after BHP decided to significantly scale back activity at an iron ore mine that employs about 720 people and is a key union target, The West Australian can reveal.

Adrian Rauso

Mineral Resources’ upgraded Onslow haul road.

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MinRes banks $200m after hitting Onslow Iron target

Mineral Resources will bank an extra $200 million from its Onslow Iron haul road investment partner after hitting a milestone shipment target.

Daniel Newell

Mt Gibson's Koolan Island project in the Kimberley.

MiningCommentsPremiumKimberley iron ore mine to close, 450 jobs to go

Mount Gibson Iron is cutting 450 jobs after the early closure of mining operations at the Koolan Island iron ore mine off the Kimberley.

Sean Smith

Ross McEwan, chair of BHP, speaks during the company's annual general meeting in Melbourne.

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BHP shuts down talk of cartel pact with Rio against China

BHP has not ruled out joining forces with Rio Tinto as China flexes its market muscle, but the Big Australian’s preference is a non-confrontational approach of sharing infrastructure.

Adrian Rauso