en.Wedoany.com Reported - At its 2026 Annual General Meeting, Rio Tinto emphasized that it will increase investment in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, positioning it as a long-term growth engine. The region will remain central to expansion plans for decades to come. Rio Tinto pointed out at the AGM that Pilbara's role as both a cash generation platform and a development platform is crucial.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive Simon Trott stated at the meeting that its iron ore system has a substantial pipeline of sustaining and replacement projects. Trott said: "We have the right assets and the right commodities. We operate the world's leading iron ore business—combining the unparalleled scale of the Pilbara, an integrated system in Canada, and high-grade growth at Simandou." He stressed that disciplined execution is key to unlocking value from long-life assets as Rio Tinto continues to expand its Western Australian operations.

The history of the Pilbara dates back to 1966, when Rio Tinto's first shipment departed from Tom Price. The hub now includes integrated mines, railways, and ports, and continues to expand. Rio Tinto opened its 18th Pilbara mine, Western Range, in 2025, and is advancing sustaining projects including West Angelas, Brockman Syncline 1, and Hope Downs 2.

Rhodes Ridge is positioned by Rio Tinto as a potential flagship asset, reportedly with the scale to become one of Australia's largest iron ore mines. The mine, a joint venture with Mitsui & Co. and AMB Holdings, has an annual capacity of 100 million tonnes of iron ore. Rio Tinto approved a US$294 million feasibility study (Rio Tinto share US$147 million) in December 2025. The East Pilbara Strategic Proposal outlines a framework for potential development over the next 80 years, covering mine expansions, processing facilities, rail and power infrastructure, groundwater management, renewable energy projects, and rehabilitation planning.

Although copper and lithium are increasingly important to Rio Tinto's future growth, the AGM made it clear that the Pilbara remains the backbone of Rio Tinto's business.

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