Perth-based company, Mondium, has been awarded a $400 million contract to design and build Rio Tinto’s Western Turner Syncline Phase 2 (WTS2) project in the Pilbara.
“Mondium has been working hard to execute projects successfully and prove our capability. We are thrilled to be making great strides in our growth strategy and to have secured this significant contract with Rio Tinto,” Mondium Managing Director Andrew Carnie said.
Under this contract, Mondium will undertake all engineering and design as well as procurement and construction works associated with the development of the WTS2 mine. This will include the delivery of the process plant, overland conveyor and non-process infrastructure.
Works are set to commence in the first quarter of 2020 and is due to be completed in 2021.
Approximately 450 jobs are expected to be created under this works package. Mondium and Rio Tinto will be working closely to ensure that work opportunities are provided to locals as well as Indigenous workers and businesses in the region.
“We’re committed to supporting WA businesses, buying locally and supporting our communities through the creation of jobs. We’re pleased to award this contract to Mondium who share those values.
“We’re continuing to invest in Western Australia and have a number of development projects in the pipeline that will continue to provide opportunities for local companies,” Rio Tinto Iron ore Chief Executive Officer Chris Salisbury said.
On November 2019, Rio Tinto invested $1 billion for the development of the WTS2 which will help sustain the company’s production capacity at its Pilbara iron ore operations. The funding will also cover the costs to build a new crusher and a 13-kilometre overland conveyor that will transport crushed ore from the mine to an existing transfer infrastructure.
The WTS2 project - located about 35 kilometres north west of Tom Price - is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs during construction. This project is set to provide more job opportunities for local workers and businesses with most of the equipment and technology required for its delivery to be manufactured in Western Australia.
In addition, the Western Australian Government approved the development of the project just a month after Rio Tinto announced its $1 billion investment for the WTS2.
Mondium is an end-to-end engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) joint venture by Monadelphous and Lycopodium.
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Source: Rio Tinto; Monadelphous; Lycopodium; Mondium; Australian Mining