NRW wins $95 million Rio contract

Rio Tinto has awarded works to NRW Holdings at its $2.6 billion Koodaideri iron ore project, while BGC Contracting secured a contract extension at Atlas Iron’s Mt Webber project.

NRW will undertake the initial pre-strip works at Koodaideri, which is located in the Pilbara.

The contract will commence this November, take 78 weeks to complete, and have a peak site-based workforce of 150.

The contract includes site establishment, clearing, pre-strip mining operations, construction of haul roads, in-pit facilities and drainage works.

Rio Tinto said it expected about 90 per cent of Koodaideri’s contracted expenditure would be awarded to Australia-based businesses.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Chris Salisbury said Western Australia-based businesses were expected to have the opportunity to tender for almost 80 per cent of the expenditure.

 “We are committed to ensuring the Koodaideri project, a multi-billion dollar investment in WA, creates value for businesses and communities during its construction and operation,” he said.

Also today, BGC Contracting announced it was awarded an extension to its contract with Atlas Iron at the Mt Webber iron ore project in the Pilbara

Atlas Iron confirmed that current mining contract will be extended through to June 2022.

BGC Contracting will now provide services up to the end of operations at the Mt Webber mine site.

Under the contract, BGC Contracting will continue to provide a range of mining services including drilling, blasting, loading, hauling, dumping and mineral processing for the operation.

BGC Contracting chief executive officer Greg Heylen welcomed the decision and thanked the Mt Webber project team for their delivery on what was a significant project for the company.

“BGC’s long-standing relationship with Atlas Iron has seen the two companies work collaboratively over the better part of the last decade.  During this time, we have continuously and reliably met Atlas Iron’s safety and production targets,” Mr Heylen said.

Shares in NRW were down 0.42 per cent to close trade at $2.39 each.