A tropical cyclone hit Western Australia in late March, causing operation disruptions and port damages that would affect some 25m tonnes of iron ore production.
Niron Metals, an investment vehicle co-founded and headed by Davis, has struck a deal with Liberia allowing it to use a rail and port to export iron ore from Guinea's Zogota iron ore deposit.
Rio Tinto's warning to mining lobby groups that they have to acknowledge the threat of climate change is likely a sign that the industry will inevitably fracture into two camps.