RIO TINTO exported its third billionth tonne of iron ore from Australia on 8 September 2009.
The milestone tonne was loaded onto the Pacific Ruby at Rio Tinto’s Cape Lambert port. It was part of a 240,000t cargo consisting of iron ore from the Yandicoogina and Mesa J mines, bound for South Korean steel producer POSCO.
Rio Tinto operates 11 mines and three terminals at two ports in Western Australia's Pilbara region.
According to Rio Tinto, the milestone tonne consisted of two different products sourced from mines more than 300km apart, which were separately transported on two rail lines to meet at a new four-berth port for shipping.
Rio Tinto took 25 years to ship its first billion tonnes, 12 years to reach the second billion tonnes and six years from then to post its third billionth tonne.
Add a comment