Gina Rinehart turns first soil for McPhee mine

A momentous milestone took place last week with the turning of first soil for Atlas Iron’s McPhee Creek iron ore mine, about 100km north of the Roy Hill mine in WA’s northeast Pilbara region.

After multiple environmental and regulatory delays, the Federal Government finally gave the green light in September this year for the mine to proceed, with first ore expected in FY26 at an expected production rate of 10mtpa.

Hancock Prospecting executive chairman Gina Rinehart, Hanroy chief executive Sanjiv Manchanda and staff from Roy Hill, HanRoy and Atlas Iron attended this important ground-breaking event.

Mrs Rinehart says the McPhee mine, which has a 15-year mine life, will use existing infrastructure, such as preparation plant, rail, road and port.

“Not only will McPhee help us remain a trusted and reliable supplier of iron ore in the global market, but its development will also ensure ongoing jobs and opportunities for our fantastic staff and the many local, small and large businesses our operations support, and the continuation of billions of dollars in revenue to governments through taxes and royalties etc.,” she said.

“Revenue which funds jobs and living standards, plus services and infrastructure that assist Australians.”

The McPhee mine was originally expected to open in 2023.

Mr Manchanda says the McPhee mine was part of the acquisition of Atlas Iron in 2018 by Hancock Prospecting, with feasibility studies commencing in early 2019 and the Atlas Board approving the project in 2021.

“Almost four years later, having experienced the introduction and subsequent withdrawal of the ACH bill, introduction of draft Pilbara regional guidelines under proposed nature positive legislation and once again its subsequent withdrawal, here we are finally marking the commencement of development of this mine by HanRoy for and on behalf of Atlas and Roy Hill,” he said.

“This mine will contribute hundreds of millions of dollars in various forms of State and Federal taxes duties and royalties and benefits to the people who live in this area.

“This could easily have been billions instead of millions, if we had the opportunity and the approvals to have the mine in production in 2021/2022 when the iron ore price was more than $200 per tonne and not $100 per tonne.”

McPhee mine site is located in the northeast Pilbara region of WA, about 100km north of Roy Hill Mine and 30km north of Nullagine.

Once operational, primary crushed ore will be hauled by road train from McPhee to Roy Hill for processing, transport to the port and shipping.

A critical part of the McPhee project is HanRoy’s unique partnership with the WA Government to upgrade 92 km of Marble Bar Road to a two-lane, sealed road which will improve road safety and connectivity for emergency services and people living in Newman and Marble Bar.

McPhee mine is located on the lands of the Nyamal People, with the ore being transported through the lands of the Palyku People.