On Monday 23 December 2019, Acting WA Premier Roger Cook announced the Western Australian Government had officially approved Rio Tinto’s Western Turner Syncline Phase 2 proposal.
The new phase of the Western Turner mine, located approximately 35 kilometres north-west of Tom Price, will enable Rio Tinto to sustain approved production of 30 million tonnes a year.
Construction work includes a new crusher and a 13-kilometre long overland conveyor to transport crushed ore to existing transfer infrastructure.
The $1 billion project is expected to generate more than 1,000 construction jobs, with the extension allowing Rio Tinto to sustain the current workforce at its Greater Tom Price hub.
Construction of Phase 2 is scheduled to commence early this year, with the first ore expected to be delivered during the third quarter of 2021.
Mr Cook said most of the technology and equipment needed to build the Western Turner proposal will be manufactured in Western Australia, which will create more jobs for local workers.
“The Western Turner Syncline project will boost WA’s economy, creating more than 1,000 construction jobs and securing ongoing work for the company’s existing local workforce,” he commented.
“This project is a big injection into Western Australia in terms of improving business confidence and boosting the state’s economy.”
