Rio Tinto green-lights $2.6bn Koodaideri iron ore mine

Rio Tinto on Thursday gave the green light for its $2.6bn (£2.03bn) Koodaideri iron ore mine in Western Australia.

Koodaideri will feature technology already in use across Rio Tinto, such as autonomous trucks, trains and drills, and implement systems connecting all components of the mining value chain for the first time.

“Koodaideri is a game-changer for Rio Tinto. It will be the most technologically advanced mine we have ever built and sets a new benchmark for the industry in terms of the adoption of automation and the use of data to enhance safety productivity,” said Rio Tinto chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques.

Rio Tinto lifted its annual output forecast to 43m tonnes a year from 40m.