Rio Tinto approved a USD 3.1 billion plan to develop its Pilbara iron ore operations in western Australia. The investment supports an increase in capacity to 283 million tpy by 2013 and brings Rio closer to its target capacity of 333 million tpy by 2015. USD 2.1 billion will go into port and rail infrastructure around Cape Lambert, including a two-berth wharf, new stockyard, car dumper, two stackers and reclaimers, rail marshalling yards and six new heavy-haul train units. Mine and housing expansions are expected within the year, pending approval of further investments and a final feasibility study focusing on increasing Pilbara production capacity to 333 million tpy by 2015 has been approved. The Pilbara operations have a total capacity of 220 million tpy and the company’s production from Pilbara was 162 million tons last year. A 1.8km jetty and four-berth wharf at Cape Lambert to support a multi-stage increase in capacity of 50 million tpy is also in the works for the company. Additional expansions will be determined for the Brockman 4, Western Turner Syncline and Nammuldi mines by 2011. Rio Tinto has revealed USD 6 billion worth of developments for the Pilbara.