CIMIC’s CPB Contractors has been selected by Rio Tinto to deliver three separate packages of work at the miner’s Robe Valley iron ore operations, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The projects, worth approximately A$150 million ($103 million), include earthworks; construction of roads, bridges and pits; water supply infrastructure and drainage; fencing; and site establishment and demobilisation. The projects will be completed by the end of 2021, according to CIMIC.

Back in October 2018, Rio, together with joint venture partners Mitsui and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal, approved an investment of $1.55 billion to sustain production capacity at two projects forming part of the Robe River joint venture in the Pilbara. Around $967 million was set to go towards developing the Mesa B, C and H deposits at Robe Valley, with $579 million for developing Deposits C and D at West Angelas operation.

The investments were to enable Rio Tinto to sustain production of the Pilbara Blend and its Robe Valley lump and fines products.

CIMIC Group Chief Executive Officer, Michael Wright, said: “CIMIC Group companies have a strong track record of delivering significant projects to the iron ore industry. With our decades of experience in the Pilbara we offer major mining clients certainty and confidence in construction, mining and industrial services.”