The Channar mine is located near Paraburdoo in WA’s Pilbara and produces up to 10 million tonnes per annum of iron ore.
That iron ore is exported through Rio Tinto’s Cape Lambert and Dampier port operations.
The mine employs about 140 workers.
More than two thirds of those workers are residential.
The variation will extend the agreement’s expiry by 10 years to February 2028 with the provision of a further five-year extension beyond that.
This extension is expected to cover the completion of approved mining activities, as well as decommissioning and rehabilitation of the area once mining has concluded.
The variation also underpins the continued operation of the Channar Mining Joint Venture, which was China’s first every mining JV in Australia.
That JV celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.