Ann: NRW Awarded BHP South Flank Contract, page-11

With respect to Rio also commenting on “inflationary pressure”
See https://www.copyright link/business...nto-new-iron-ore-mine-options-20180705-h12aqr
Double relevance as the story flags a new Rio mine up Paraburdoo way likely to come online

Rio expects to spend $US2.2 billion on replacement mines and $US3 billion maintaining existing mines in WA over the next three years, but has warned of significant inflationary pressures.

The previously unheralded Western Range figured in Rio's presentation on new mine options outlined late last month during the first investor roadshow to its Pilbara operations in five years.

Analysts who were on the roadshow suggested Rio had low-cost options to lift Pilbara capacity from the target 360 million tonnes a year by the end of 2019.

"We think there is significant scope, through productivity gains and limited capital investment (primarily mine development), to take capacity up towards 380 million tonnes per annum and potentially as high as 400 million tonnes per annum," Deutsche analyst Liam Fitzpatrick said in a note.


Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Chris Salisbury said last week the company was focused on its guidance targets.

He also confirmed Rio was in the early stages of studying development of the Western Range deposit "which will be an important project for the future of Paraburdoo".