Rio Tinto has awarded a new $95 million contract to NRW Holdings for mine pre-strip works at the Koodaideri iron ore project in the Pilbara, Western Australia.
Under this contract, NRW will undertake the development of mining pre-strip as well as earthworks infrastructure that will enable mining operations to commence.
Scope of works will include mobilisation and site establishment; drill and blast services; construction of access roads, haul roads and drainage; as well as clearing and stripping topsoil and subsoil.
Work is anticipated to begin in November of this year and will take up to 78 weeks to complete. The company will be utilising major plant from its existing fleet.
At peak construction, more than 150 site-based personnel is going to be needed on site to deliver the works.
In May 2019, NRW was awarded a $137 million contract to deliver the Koodaideri Rail Formation South Earthworks. You can read more about it here.
“NRW looks forward to continuing our relationship with Rio Tinto and supporting their iron ore operations in the Pilbara,” NRW Holdings Chief Executive Officer Jules Pemberton said.
The Koodaideri iron ore project is located approximately 110 kilometres from Newman. This mining operations is set to become Rio Tinto’s new major Pilbara hub. The project will comprise of a processing plant and infrastructure, including a 166-kilometre rail line that will link Rio Tinto’s existing 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 its construction and about 600 ongoing positions once it is operational.
The Koodaideri iron ore project is set to begin operations by 2021 with a capacity of up to 43Mtpa.
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Source: Australian Mining; Mining Weekly; MiningNews.net