Tag Archives: Robe River Joint Venture

Mitsui and Rio Tinto to explore low-emission supply chain options

Mitsui & Co has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rio Tinto to jointly explore opportunities for reducing emissions and transforming the world’s supply chains.

Under the MoU, Mitsui and Rio Tinto will work closely together to examine more sustainable measures such as reducing the carbon content of raw materials for iron and steel production; developing new renewable energy; supplying alternative fuels such as ammonia, methanol and hydrogen; decarbonisation in marine transportation; decarbonisation of mobility at mining sites; and initiatives like nature-based solutions, carbon credits and others.

The new partnership builds on Mitsui and Rio Tinto’s long history of collaboration, stretching back to the beginnings of the Robe River Joint Venture in Western Australia, which this year celebrated 50 years of iron ore shipments to Japan. The MoU combines Mitsui’s vast network, assets and accumulated industry knowledge with Rio Tinto’s grand-scale supply chain and leading position in the mining & metal industry, the companies said.

Decmil Group bolsters Rio Robe Valley iron ore work

Decmil Group says it has secured a A$30 million ($22 million) contract from Rio Tinto to design and construct heavy vehicle (HV) and light vehicle (LV) facilities at the Mesa J iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The scope of the works includes the design and construction of a site laydown area, HV wash facility, mobile equipment maintenance workshop, bulk lube storage facility, and HV and LV tyre change facilities, it said.

Additionally, Decmil will deconstruct the existing HV wash facility and existing bulk lube storage facility at Mesa J. The contract is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2021.

Decmil CEO, Dickie Dique, said the contract award was a testament to the company’s ability to capitalise on a buoyant iron ore and magnetite market.

“We have now won two contracts with Rio Tinto in the space of a month, and, in September, we secured a A$41 million contract at the Iron Bridge magnetite project,” Dique said. “This validates our enhanced strategic focus on utilising our core capabilities to target a significant tender pipeline with blue chip customers in the resources sector.”

The Mesa J mine is part of the Robe Valley hub, which is owned by the Robe River Joint Venture. Rio Tinto has a 53% stake in the JV and is operator of Robe Valley, which has two iron ore producing mines in Mesa A and Mesa J.

On October 23, 2020, Decmil announced it was awarded an A$8.7 million contract from Rio Tinto to design and construct a laboratory facility at Mesa A.