NRW secures $137m contract to deliver works on the WA Koodaideri iron ore project

NRW Holdings has secured a new $137 million contract from Rio Tinto for the delivery of the Koodaideri Rail Formation South Earthworks as part of the Koodaideri iron ore project in the Pilbara, Western Australia.

Scope of works under this contract include the construction of a 73-kilometre rail embankment as well as a new 44-kilometre mine access road that connects to the Great Northern Highway and associated works along the Koodaideri rail alignment.

Works are expected to commence in August of this year and will take up to 70 weeks to complete. Approximately 300 workers are anticipated to be on site at peak construction.

“I am delighted that NRW has been awarded the Koodaideri Rail Formation South contract by Rio Tinto," NRW Holdings Chief Executive Officer Jules Pemberton said.

This contract win is in addition to NRW’s $65 million contract to deliver bulk earthworks and drainage works for the Koodaideri project that was awarded earlier this year.

Earlier this month, the Acciona-Clough joint venture was also awarded the contract to deliver the northern rail formation.

The Koodaideri iron ore project is located about 110 kilometres from Newman and it is set to become Rio Tinto’s new major Pilbara hub. The development will comprise of a processing plant and infrastructure which includes a 166-kilometre rail line that connects to Rio Tinto’s existing Pilbara rail network, an airport, support facilities and accommodation for mine workers.

The entire Koodaideri development is expected to support up to 2,000 jobs during construction and up to 600 ongoing positions once it is operational.

The Koodaideri mine is set to be operational by 2021, with a capacity of up to 43Mtpa.

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Source: Australian Mining; The West Australian; Inside Construction