Diversified mining group Rio Tinto on Monday completed the sale of Dampier Salt’s Lake MacLeod operation to Perth-based Leichhardt Industrials Group.

The transaction, which was first announced in January, sees the Lake MacLeod salt and gypsum operations, located in Carnarvon, Western Australia, now under the control of the Leichhardt.

Leichhardt has committed to maintaining the current workforce at Lake MacLeod, ensuring continued employment for the operation’s 127-person team. This move is expected to provide stability to the local community in Carnarvon and the surrounding areas, where the Lake MacLeod operation has been a significant contributor to the regional economy.

"We are proud of Lake MacLeod’s legacy and the strong contribution of the operation and its workforce to the Carnarvon community and surrounding areas. We acknowledge the collaboration of community partners and Traditional Owners throughout this process,” commented Rio Rinto iron-ore MD and director for port, rail and core services, Richard Cohen.

Scott Nicholas, CEO of Leichhardt Industrials Group, expressed confidence in the future of the operation, stating, “Lake MacLeod is a sustainable and perpetual operation. We will continue to invest in the Lake MacLeod project and the Carnarvon region to realise its full potential and ensure diversification for the state’s economy.”

The sale, valued at A$375-million, includes the 1.5-million-tonne-a-year solar salt operation, a one-million-tonne-a-year gypsum operation, and a deepwater port at Cape Cuvier. The Lake MacLeod operation is located on Baiyungu and Yinggarda country in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, approximately 70 km north of Carnarvon.

Following the sale of Lake MacLeod, Dampier Salt retains its other assets, including solar salt sites at Dampier and Port Hedland. The company, which is a joint venture between Rio Tinto (68%), Marubeni Corporation (22%), and Sojitz (10%), is Asia’s largest exporter of seaborne salt.