Indigenous JVs win $184m of Rio's Hope Downs work

Mining giant Rio Tinto has awarded $184 million in contracts for work at its Hope Downs 4 mine site to two indigenous joint ventures.

Rio announced today it had awarded the Leighton Contractors and Ngarda Civil and Mining joint venture a $104 million earthworks deal.

The company also awarded an $80 million mine building and support facilities construction contract to a joint venture bveween Aboriginal contractor Pilbara Logistics and Cimeco.

Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Sam Wash said the awards demonstrated the company’s high priority to develop the business capacity of indigenous firms and create long-term employment and training opportunities in the Pilbara.

“These latest two contracts are another step towards the successful implementation of our goal to achieve 333Mtpa in the Pilbara in 2015,” Mr Walsh said in a statement.

“They also highlight our commitment to building Aboriginal business capacity in doing so. It is imperative that we maintain this momentum.”

The Hope Downs 4 mine is located around 200 kilometres east of Tom Price, and Rio is aiming for a production capacity of 15 million tonnes per year for its $US1.2 billion investment.