BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s initial growth phase involved development of the company’s Mining Area C operation in the central Pilbara and expansion of the company’s railway and port facilities, completed in 2004.

 

The ensuing growth projects, Accelerated Expansion program and RGP1 in 2004, and RGP2 in 2006, expanded capacity to 118 mpta.

 

RGP3 included a new pit at the Mining Area C operation’s 'E Deposit' and construction of new crushing and screening facilities at the operation’s 'C Deposit'.  RGP3 increased installed capacity at the client’s Mining Area C’s operation by 20 mtpa to increase total installed capacity to 129mtpa.

 

RGP4 will increase the installed capacity of BHP Billiton’s Newman mining operations by 26mtpa to increase total installed capacity to 155mtpa. The project includes a new crushing and screening plant, as well as additional stockyards, car dumping and train loading facilities at BHP Billiton’s Mount Whaleback mining operation in Newman. It also involves infrastructure upgrades at satellite ore bodies in the eastern Pilbara and associated with the rail and port operations.

 

BHP Billiton’s RGP5 expansion project will take installed capacity to 205mtpa by the second half of calendar year 2011.  The majority of production growth associated with RGP5 will come from developments at the company’s Yandi and Mining Area C operations in the central Pilbara. 

 

The project will also deliver significant infrastructure upgrades including additional shipping berths in the Port Hedland inner harbour at Finucane Island, duplication of sections of the company’s rail system between its Yandi mining operation and Port Hedland, plus additional crushing, screening and stockpiling facilities at Yandi.