NRW Holdings, leading provider of civil and mining services to the resources sector in Australia, in joint venture with the Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd (NYFL) and Eastern Guruma Pty Ltd, has been awarded a contract worth approximately A$80 million for mining at Fortescue Metals Group (Fortescue’s) expansion project the Solomon Hub. NRW has also been awarded additional T155 port expansion works. The Solomon Hub is located to the west of Fortescue’s operational Chichester Hub. The contract consists of load and haul, and drill and blast, for the initial pre-strip with mobilisation to commence immediately. It is also expected that pioneering civil earthworks including access roads will be undertaken as part of the scope. The contract has an anticipated 18 month duration. This contract follows other successful NRW works carried out for Fortescue – including rail earthworks for the Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak mines; contract mining operations; bulk earthworks for, amongst other things, an Ore Processing Facility (OPF) and works at the Herb Elliott Port at Port Hedland as part of the T60 expansion.

NRW Holdings CEO Jules Pemberton welcomed the decision, “Fortescue is a long term client of NRW’s and Solomon represents the next major phase of its growth – NRW is extremely proud and excited to be by their side once again.”

NRW has been awarded a further A$112 million earthworks, concrete works, piling and track works contract at Fortescue’s Herb Elliott Port facility as part of the T155 Expansion. The scope of works to be undertaken in the ten month contract includes:

• Earthworks – consisting of 1.8 million m³ of cut to fill, 26,000 m³ of rock protection and 34, 000 m³ of road base in the stockyards and associated areas
• Concrete works – consisting of 9,000 m³ of structural concrete
• Piling – 4,800 bored piles
• Track Works – consisting of 4 km of rail installation.

Jules Pemberton said of this award. “NRW has worked consecutively on Fortescue projects since early 2007 and we are proud to be assisting Fortescue to achieving the planned T155 expansion as scheduled.”

NRW has had a team on site at Herb Elliott Port since November 2010, undertaking the initial civil packages for the Early Works and the T60 Project. The original scope of works is scheduled to finish as the new contract scope commences. NRW workforce will peak at approximately 220 employees, with work to commence immediately.

Further to the above, NRW Holdings is also pleased to report that its subsidiary, Action Drill & Blast, has been awarded a number of new contracts to a total value of A$14.6 million in the last quarter. Key projects include Greenbushes for Talison Lithium; Gregory Crinum for BMA; as well as additional works at Christmas Creek and South Middleback Ranges.