Overview
- Hancock Prospecting confirmed on Wednesday that it will cut jobs at its Pilbara Roy Hill operations as part of an annual life‑of‑mine review aimed at extending the mine by about 10 years.
- The company said the plan will reduce mining activity at Roy Hill while keeping system production at roughly 63 million tonnes per year by changing how ore is mined, processed and blended.
- Hancock declined to give a precise headcount and a company spokesman said some widely cited estimates were inaccurate, while media reports have suggested the number of roles lost could be between about 150 and 500.
- Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King called the cuts disappointing and urged Hancock to ensure affected workers receive their entitlements promptly.
- The decision follows last year’s merger of Roy Hill and Atlas Iron and comes as Hancock has made large outside investments, including a reported more‑than‑US$1 billion SpaceX stake and a placement in St George Mining, a shift that could draw further political and community scrutiny.