Japan-based Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC) and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) have announced that Robe River Iron Associates, the joint venture company formed by Australian miner Rio Tinto, Mitsui and NSSMC, will invest in the West Angelas iron ore mine and in the expansion of its production capacity. The West Angelas mine located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia is owned by the joint venture in question.

The new deposit is expected to start production in January 2015. Upon completion, total production capacity at West Angelas, from the new deposit together with existing deposits, will be expanded from the current 29 million mt per year to 35 million mt per year. Mine expansion will increase the Robe River JV nameplate capacity by 6 million mt per year.

Through the Robe River JV, NSSMC and Mitsui will continue their efforts to enable a stable supply and procurement of iron ore for which global demand is expected to increase further.