Engineering services company, WorleyParsons Limited has been awarded a contract to perform engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for Rio Tinto’s Koodaideri iron ore mine, roughly 110 kilometres from the town of Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The award of the EPCM contract follows the completion of the detailed engineering study for the Koodaideri project.
The project will be executed over a three-year period from the Perth project office with additional support teams on the mine and rail locations.
WorleyParsons is expected to use data-centric engineering processes to also produce a digital asset for Rio Tinto.
“We are pleased to expand our relationship with Rio Tinto on this important project”, said Andrew Wood, Chief Executive Officer of WorleyParsons.
Koodaideri will deliver a new production hub for Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore business, incorporating a processing plant and infrastructure including a 166-kilometre rail line connecting the mine to the existing network.
Construction will commence this year with first production expected to occur in late 2021.
Once complete, the mine will have an annual capacity of 43 million tonnes, underpinning production of the Pilbara Blend – Rio Tinto’s flagship iron ore product.
Koodaideri is expected to be Rio Tinto’s most technologically advanced mine to date.