The joint venture set up by engineering and construction companies Forge Group and Clough has won its first contract, to work on the port facilities for Hancock Prospecting's Roy Hill iron ore project in the Pilbara.
The joint venture has been awarded an early contractor involvement (ECI) contract, under which it will develop a final scope and schedule in order to deliver a price for the construction of the port materials handling facilities.
Forge Group managing director Peter Hutchinson said "this is exactly the type and scale of project that we have been targeting and wanting to get involved in".
"The size of the project may well have precluded Forge Group companies from pre-qualifying for the work had it not been for the joint venture partnership with Clough."
Mr Hutchinson said that having won the ECI contract, the joint venture is "well positioned" to bid for the construction phase.
Clough chief executive John Smith agreed the contract was strategically significant for the joint venture.
The partnership was formed last year after Clough took a major shareholding in Forge, boosting both company's capabilities of bidding for bigger jobs.
"Clough Forge combines Clough's existing engineering-led EPC service with Forge's complementary construction capabilities to achieve this vision and the Roy Hill project provides the right opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of this partnership," Mr Smith said.
Hancock Prospecting is targeting production of 55 million tonnes per year of lump and fines iron ore from Roy Hill, to be shipped through dedicated berths at Port Hedland.
