Fast-growing engineering consultancy Calibre Projects has won a contract to conduct a feasibility study for BHP Billiton's $465 million Maruwai coal mine project in Indonesia.
Calibre co-founder and managing director Jack Rowley told WA Business News the privately-owned firm had received a letter of award to act as study manager for the project, in conjunction with Clough Ltd subsidiary Petrosea and Roberts & Schaefer.
Calibre, Petrosea and Roberts & Schaefer plan to undertake the feasibility study in order to progress to the engineering, procurement and construction management for the mine, located in Kalimantan, Indonesia.
The project scope includes mine infrastructure, airport, coal handling plant, coal preparation plant, haul road, overland conveyor, stacking, reclaiming, blending, utilities, barge loading and port facilities.
The feasibility study is expected to be completed in December this year, when the EPCM phase of the project will begin, following BHP Billiton board approval.
Mr Rowley said he recognised that there was a need to give Calibre a long term future beyond the current iron ore boom.
"We've built a very solid platform to ensure the sustainability of the business and the Maruwai project supports our efforts to diversify into new industry sectors and new geographic areas."
The contract gives Calibre a foothold in coal and secures a relationship with BHP Billiton, the world's biggest miner.
The project will be undertaken by engineers located in project offices in Brisbane, Jakarta and a site office in Balikpapan.
Calibre was recognised as the fastest growing private company in Western Australia in last year's WA Business News Rising Stars Index for 2005.
