Rio Tinto plc seals A$1.1 billion Pilbara water deal as Dampier desalination expands

Rio Tinto has signed on for a 50:50 joint venture with the Western Australian government, committing A$1.1 billion to build a seawater desalination plant near Dampier. The project targets increased water supply for Pilbara towns and industry while cutting back on groundwater reliance. “Water is a scarce resource, especially in the Pilbara,” Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Matthew Holcz said.