Yilgarn Iron Investments has acquired total ownership of the Yilgarn Hub, including all Yilgarn Iron shares. The purchase comprises tenements, licences, fixed assets, approvals, and land associated with the wider Yilgarn iron operations.
MinRes will keep gold and lithium rights over relevant tenements, keeping strategic interest in the area alive. The transfer enables MinRes to concentrate on bigger projects, such as Onslow Iron, while still maintaining valuable mineral rights. The sale was structured to create ongoing benefits for local communities and Western Australia’s wider economy.
Chris Ellison Looks Back on 14 Years of Success at Yilgarn
MinRes managing director Chris Ellison recognised the success of the team in more than a decade of operation at the Yilgarn. He pointed to the significance of preserving hundreds of jobs at Koolyanobbing when Cleveland Cliffs withdrew from the area years ago.
According to Ellison, the company was proud of what was accomplished by its lengthy operations at the historic iron ore location. He was confident that the new owner would maintain support for jobs and long-term regional development in WA. The announcement reiterated MinRes’s dedication to responsible transition planning and workforce continuity through the process.
Reasons for the MinRes Yilgarn Hub Sale
MinRes initially confirmed proposals to sell the Yilgarn Hub during January 2024, citing a number of operational and strategic reasons. The short remaining life of the mine and high capital expenditures made long-term investment unattractive for the company’s portfolio. New resource development within the site would have taken long lead times and huge amounts of money to be profitable.
MinRes favoured finding a purchaser who could keep the close to 80-year-old mine in operation to ensure community and economic stability. The terms of the sale are confidential, with an emphasis on legacy, community advantage, and continuity of operations over profits.
Workforce Relocation and Business Shift in 2024
At the end of 2024, MinRes ceased Yilgarn Hub exports and began relocating about 800 staff to other operations. Numerous such employees were relocated to new MinRes ventures, such as the rapidly advancing Onslow Iron project. Through the relocation plan, the jobs of hundreds of affected employees were secured.
MinRes’ internal redeployment process ensured the retention of morale among employees and sustained productivity throughout its project pipeline. The successful transition demonstrates the company’s competence in handling human capital in the course of significant structural and operational transformation.
What’s Next for MinRes and WA Mining
While the MinRes Yilgarn Hub sale marks a closure, the company continues expanding operations across Western Australia. Its Onslow Iron project will release billions of tonnes of stranded Pilbara deposits, with long-term production growth guarantees. The MinRes Yilgarn Hub sale to Yilgarn Iron Investments marks a key milestone in Western Australia’s iron ore industry.
By retaining gold and lithium rights, MinRes maintains a strategic presence in the region’s future development potential. Chris Ellison and the management team are committed to growing a high-value, diversified portfolio of sustainable mining assets.
Regional and Industry Contribution of the Transition
The sale of the Yilgarn Hub to Yilgarn Iron Investments guarantees that one of WA’s most established mining areas to continue driving economic growth. Communities in the Koolyanobbing area will receive ongoing employment opportunities, infrastructure benefits, and regional investment. Local contractors and suppliers are poised to uphold business prospects as the site embarks on a new operations chapter.
The sale is part of a wider movement across Australia’s mining sector, where aged assets transition to new hands. It underlines how businesses such as MinRes approach exit strategies with dignity while retaining support for workers, communities, and industry.
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Closing a Chapter, Opening New Opportunities
The sale of MinRes Yilgarn Hub to Yilgarn Iron Investments is a landmark change in Western Australia’s mining history. Chris Ellison commended the 14-year legacy and guaranteed that regional jobs will be safeguarded. By holding onto gold and lithium rights and concentrating on large-scale projects such as Onslow Iron, Mineral Resources secures its future-oriented strategy. Ongoing operations at Koolyanobbing under fresh ownership promise lasting benefits for regional communities and the economy of the state.
