Robe River Iron has reached an historic milestone, exporting a billion tonnes of iron ore from Australia, primarily from its Robe Valley in the East Pilbara.
Robe River Iron has reached an historic milestone, exporting a billion tonnes of iron ore from Australia, primarily from its Robe Valley in the East Pilbara.
The first Robe River shipment was 67,507 tonnes of sinter fines, which left Cape Lambert in October 1972.
The billionth tonne was loaded on to the Azalea Island for Robe River joint venture partner Nippon Steel.
Managing director of Pilbara Infrastructure and Robe River Mining Jack Sato said the shipment was a symbol of the long, co-operative relationship between Japanese steel producers and their Australian mining partners.
"The Japanese steel mills were a founding partner in Australia's iron ore industry, with Mitsui, a global trading house and a Robe River joint venture participant, providing both the finance and the market for Robe Valley ore," Mr Sato said
"Their continuing ownership and involvement in Robe River mining is testimony to the enduring strength of this relationship," he said.
Rio Tinto has a 53 per cent stake in Robe River Iron.
See statement from Rio Tinto below:
Robe River Iron Associates (53 per cent Rio Tinto) has reached the historic milestone of exporting a billion tonnes of iron ore from Australia.
The billionth tonne was loaded on to the Azalea Island for Robe River joint venture partner Nippon Steel, who was also the recipient of the first Robe River shipment 38 years ago.
The first Robe River shipment was 67,507 tonnes of sinter fines which left Cape Lambert in October 1972 on the Fujisan Maru. The billionth tonne was loaded in a split-cargo containing 40,000 tonnes of Robe River lump, alongside a substantial load of Yandicoogina ore.
Jack Sato, managing director of Pilbara Infrastructure and Robe River Mining, said the one billionth tonne was a symbol of the long, cooperative relationship between the Japanese steel producers and their Australian mining partners.
"The Japanese steel mills were a founding partner in Australia's iron ore industry, with Mitsui, a global trading house and a Robe River joint venture participant, providing both the finance and the market for Robe Valley ore," Mr Sato said.
"Their continuing ownership and involvement in Robe River mining is testimony to the
enduring strength of this relationship." The one billion tonnes has been sourced primarily from its mining operations in the Robe Valley, however it also includes iron ore from the company's West Angelas mine in the East Pilbara, which started shipments in May 2002. Robe River has exported 92 million tonnes of West Angelas ore from Cape Lambert port and a further 90 million tonnes from Dampier port since integration into the Pilbara Blend.
The total also includes almost 30 million tonnes of pellets which were produced at Cape Lambert up until 1980.
Japanese steelmakers have taken more than 60 per cent of Robe River iron ore, with Europe, China, Korea and Taiwan customers accounting for the remainder. Nippon Steel, Sumitomo, JFE, Kobe and Nisshin are the joint venture's largest Japanese customers. Robe River Iron Associates is an unincorporated joint venture in which Mitsui (33 per cent), Nippon Steel (10.5 per cent) and Sumitomo Metal Industries (3.5 per cent) retain interests.
