NRW wins $30m Rio Tinto contract

Local contractor NRW Holdings has been awarded a $30 million contract to provide its services to Rio Tinto’s Yandi Oxbow iron ore mine in the Pilbara, on the same day its long-serving director Ian Burston announced his retirement.

NRW announced today it had received a $30 million contract to provide bulk earthworks and civil works at Yandi, with work to begin later next month.

The scope of work includes construction of a 4.5-kilometre haul road, construction of a heavy vehicle bridge over an existing railway at the mine, and upgrades, rerouting and extensions to existing light vehicle access roads.

The contract is expected to run for about 38 weeks, with 130 workers required for the project at peak.

“NRW will utilise its existing civil construction fleet for the project,” the contractor said in a statement.

NRW also announced today that Mr Burston would be retiring from the board at the end of the month.

Mr Burston served as chairman of NRW from the time of the company’s listing in 2007 through to earlier this year when he stepped down to take a non-executive director role.

“As a doyen of the Australian mining industry Mr Burston has provided invaluable insight and counsel to the company over the past nine years,” the company said.

“The board and executive of NRW take this opportunity to express their thanks and appreciation to Mr Burston for his contribution over that time.”

NRW also named former Minerals Council of Australia chairman Peter Johnston as an incoming director.

Mr Johnston was also previously global head of nickel assets for Glencore from 2013 to 2015, and also served as president of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia, as well as vice president of the Australian Mines and Metals Association.

He will join the board from July 1.

NRW shares closed 4.5 per cent higher to 23 cents each.