The Australian-British mining company Rio Tinto announced that it has opened its Western Range mine. Western Range is a joint venture between Rio Tinto and China's Baowu Group, holding 54% and 46% of stakes respectively. It has an annual capacity of 25 million tons of iron ore.

This US$2 billion project was finished on time and on budget. It included the construction of a primary crusher and an 18-kilometer conveyor system connecting to the existing Paraburdoo processing facility.

Western Range is also the replacement project of Rio Tinto in the Pilbara region with a total capacity of about 130 million tons of ore every year. For the next three years, the company targets to bring investment for more than US$13 billion in new mines, facilities, and equipment.