Aboriginal-owned car hire company, Cedrent Enterprises (Cedrent), has been awarded a three-year, A$8 million ($5.3 million) contract to provide light vehicle hire services for BHP in South Australia and Western Australia.

The partnership offers BHP employees an alternative for short or long-term vehicle hire at Olympic Dam in South Australia, and across the company’s Newman and Port Hedland operations in the Pilbara, BHP says.

Cedrent General Manager, Dan Walmsley, said the contract was a significant milestone for Cedrent.

“This collaboration with BHP not only underscores our shared commitment to social responsibility and sustainable development but also fuels our efforts to create opportunities within the First Nations business sector,” he said.

“We’re also proud to be providing a portion of our profits to Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation in SA, or Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation in WA, which are both devoted to giving back to their communities through programs that upskill youth, support local businesses, and create a growing demand for Indigenous goods and services.”

BHP Head of Global Indigenous Procurement, Chris Cowan, said: “BHP is committed to doing more to build sustainable, profitable and enduring partnerships with Traditional Owner and Indigenous businesses across our operations, and we are working hard at all levels to make this happen.”

“By selecting Cedrent’s services when hiring vehicles for work, our people will be supporting a business that creates opportunities for First Nations people, prioritising Indigenous community engagement, job creation and procurement.

“It’s the first time an Indigenous-owned business has been awarded a contract of this type with BHP, and we look forward to working together to help empower more Indigenous businesses and communities across Australia.”

Last month, BHP released its sixth Reconciliation Action Plan, which includes a target of achieving A$1.5 billion of spend for procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Traditional Owner businesses across all Australian assets by 30 June 2027. Up to May 2023, BHP shared partnerships with 192 Indigenous businesses around the country, including 89 Traditional Owner businesses.