The Australian government has approved Rio Tinto's expansion in the second phase of the Western Turner Syncline iron ore project. The expansion work would create more than 1,000 jobs for Western Australians.

The Western Turner Syncline iron ore project was located approximately 35 kilometers away from the Tom Price mine. It was understood that the expansion plan would cost about US$749 million and start construction in early 2020, and the first batch of iron ore was expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2021.