According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Rio Tinto plans to start developing its Koodaideri iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia in 2019, claiming that it is one of the most technologically advanced projects of the Rio Tinto Group.

On June 18, Rio Tinto said that it is expected to mine the first ore of the mine in 2021 at Rio Tinto's “Investor Day” event. Rio Tinto will make a final resolution on the development of the mine by the end of this year.

“Koodaideri's deposit is 50 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide. It will become a new production base and will be a new landmark in the Pilbara region for many years to come.” Rio Tinto Iron Mine CEO Chris Chris Salisbury said. Rio Tinto expects to invest $2.2 billion to develop the Koodaideri mine.

Salisbury said the Koodaideri project in Pilbara, as well as the West Angelas and Robe Valley projects, will replace some of Rio Tinto's aging mines in the next three years.