As noted previously on www.im-mining.com, Rio Tinto recently achieved a significant milestone in its expansion programme to 290 Mt/y with the loading of the first shipment of iron ore onto the Cape-size class vessel ‘Tai Shan’ at the new Cape Lambert Port B facility. SKM played a major role in this achievement as Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) contractor for the delivery of the Cape Lambert Port B project. Significantly, this comes in the same year that SKM celebrated the 10th anniversary of delivering EPCM expansion projects for Rio Tinto’s iron ore business in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The whole EPCM market is also covered in the IM November ’13 issue, from new projects to updates on the key players.

The first shipment of ore followed the commencement of unloading ore trains through the new Cape Lambert Port B car dumper and stockpiling ore in the stockyard, which was achieved on 20 July. Cape Lambert Port B is one of the largest resource projects undertaken in Australia and has involved the development of a new port facility adjacent to the existing Cape Lambert Port A facility. The project provides additional iron ore shipping capacity of 123 Mt/y, increasing Rio Tinto’s total port capacity from 237 Mt/y in two phases, initially to 290Mt/y and ultimately to 360 Mt/y. SKM’s General Manager, Mining and Metals, Phil Lory, said that throughout the development, SKM had assisted Rio Tinto to achieve an outstanding safety record, and deliver the project within budget and ahead of schedule, while also utilising innovative design and delivery approaches.

“We have used extensive modularisation of both the onshore and offshore facilities throughout the project to improve safety, reduce costs and to compress the schedule,” he said. “Our team also utilised our world-leading marine monitoring team to monitor the environmental aspects of the project in order to adequately protect marine flora and fauna throughout the development and once construction is complete.” Formed in March 2003, the SKM Rio Tinto team tasked with delivering iron ore expansions and upgrades in the Pilbara, embarked on the program of upgrades at a time when the accelerating growth of the Chinese economy was just beginning and there was little understanding of the enormity of the resources boom that was to come.

Today, the team holds a successful track record, earned through the delivery of many projects for Rio Tinto – including the Dampier Port Upgrade, Cape Lambert Upgrade, Power System Upgrades, the Coastal Water Project, as well as the Cape Lambert Port B project. This represents over A$10 billion worth of capital investment delivered over the past decade. The team has also earned a number of industry awards, including the Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence Awards in 2006, 2008 and 2010 for the Dampier Port Upgrade and Cape Lambert Upgrade.