Rio Tinto has announced that it is upgrading its bulk handling facilities at East Intercourse Island at the Port of Dampier, with an estimated project cost of $70 million. This project will include manufacturing, installing and commissioning of three replacement stackers as well as associated equipment.
Rio Tinto will also concentrate on utilising local content for the successful delivery of this project.
“I’m pleased to announce a significant proportion of the design, fabrication and installation work will be completed here in Western Australia, creating jobs at every stage of the project.
“We look forward to using these new, locally made machines to help deliver iron ore to our markets for many decades to come,” Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Chris Salisbury said.
Approximately 97 per cent of labour for this project is going to be sourced from Western Australia and up to three quarters of the heavy equipment to be wholly made in the country.
Up to 150 local jobs are expected to be created by this project, which includes 30 jobs based in the Pilbara for site preparation and equipment installation.
Contracts for site establishment work as well as quality assurance and engineering inspections will be made available to West Australian businesses.
Rio Tinto, together with Thyssenkrupp Australia, will be identifying additional work which can include West Australia, Pilbara and Aboriginal businesses.
Thyssenkrupp will be responsible for the manufacturing, assembling and fabricating of stackers that will be used for the refurbishment – before the 1,860 tonnes of stackers are transported to the Pilbara.
Works on the design and fabrication are set to begin in 2018, with installation and commissioning set for late 2020.
Source: Rio Tinto