Rio Tinto subsidiary Hamersley Iron has shipped its first iron ore from the Yandicoogina mine in Western Australia through Robe River’s Cape Lambert port facilities.
The Lowlands Beilun, carrying 168,000t of HI Yandi product, is destined for Nippon Steel.
Rio Tinto and the other Robe River Joint Venture participants reached an in-principle agreement for shipment of Hamersley’s Yandi ore from Cape Lambert in late September.
Robe River Iron Associates is an unincorporated JV with interests held by Rio Tinto, Mitsui, Nippon Steel Australia and Sumitomo Metal Australia. Hamersley Iron is 100% owned by Rio Tinto.