Fortescue signs indigenous training program MOU

Fortescue Metals Group will establish a training program for indigenous people to gain employment in the company's Pilbara iron ore project in association with the North Alberta Institute of Technology, the company announced today.

The full text of a company announcement is pasted below

Perth: Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (Fortescue, ASX: FMG) and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a training program for Aboriginal people to gain employment in Fortescue's Pilbara iron ore project.

NAIT has earned an international reputation as a provider of training programs and facilities to government and industry, training Indigenous people in Canada for employment in the oil and gas industries, as well as other industries in China, Argentina, the Middle East, Cuba and Africa. NAIT also instrumental in designing a mine operators training program for Indigenous people at the Rio Tinto Diavik diamond mine in the north of Canada.

NAIT will provide advice and expertise in the design and implementation of training programs to maximise the employment outcomes for Aboriginal people in Fortescue's project. NAIT will also assist in the identification of employment opportunities and the design of a mobile training facility able to deliver an introduction to trades in towns and remote communities.

"As part of the Land Access Agreements Fortescue signed in 2005 with native title claimant groups, we agreed to significant commitments towards Aboriginal training, employment and economic development," said Alan Watling, Fortescue's Chief Operating Officer.

"NAIT's first steps will be to conduct a 'Needs Assessment Feasibility Study' in Perth and Port Hedland to identify opportunities and training requirements, and from there will design a curriculum with the input from local educational institutions and provide advice on the design of a training facility in the project mining operations.

"When the program is up and running, we expect to train approximately 100 Indigenous people a year. Fortescue will identify employment opportunities in our project and in Pilbara businesses linked to the program for successful trainees.

"Fortescue is very pleased with our relationship with NAIT and are always looking for new ways to develop opportunities for local people. We hope that our partnership with NAIT will go towards developing and sustaining Indigenous communities in the area and we look forward to welcoming these new workers into our fold," concluded Mr Watling.