Kerman Contracting is to work on Rio Tinto’s in-development Western Turner Syncline 2 (WTS2) iron ore project, in Western Australia, following a contract award from Mondium.

Mondium was last month awarded a contract to design and construct the WTS2 mine in the Pilbara of Western Australia. It has since agreed to contract out the design, construction and commissioning of non-process infrastructure facilities and an explosives compound to Kerman as part of a circa-A$55 million ($37 million) agreement.

The construction works are due to start in the June quarter, with the contract comprising a fixed plant workshop complete with amenities and office buildings, a heavy vehicle diesel storage and refuelling facility and two remote facility buildings inclusive of offices, ablutions and crib rooms as well as an ammonium nitrate and emulsion storage facility and explosives compound.

Kerman’s Managing Director, Chris Kerman, said: “We are excited about the opportunity to work with Mondium at the WTS2 project and looking forward to building a strong and lasting business relationship with Mondium.

“This contract award builds on Kerman’s previous successful project outcomes in the Pilbara region in particular for Rio Tinto and other major mining companies.”

Back in November, Rio said it would invest $749 million in the development of WTS2 at its Greater Tom Price operations, facilitating mining of existing and new deposits and including construction of a new crusher as well as a 13 km conveyor.