Rio Tinto awards A$22m Amrun contract to Sodexo with 20 per cent Indigenous employment target

Rio Tinto has awarded a A$22 million integrated services contract to facilities management provider Sodexo which includes an Indigenous employment target of 20 per cent within two years.

Sodexo will supply camp management services to the world class Amrun bauxite project on the Cape York Peninsula in North Queensland. 50 jobs will be required to deliver the two year contract.

A letter of intent has also been signed with the company to provide integrated facilities management services at mine sites at Weipa in North Queensland and Gove in the Northern Territory.

The contract was awarded based on Sodexo’s commercial offering, commitment to health, safety and environment and local and Indigenous participation.

Amrun Project General Manager Marcia Hanrahan said "Facilities management will be critical to the ongoing success of Amrun operations. We are very pleased to work with Sodexo to provide the safest and most comfortable environment for our people living and working onsite.

"Sodexo is committed to achieving our Indigenous employment targets and will also work closely with local businesses to identify associated subcontracting opportunities".

Sodexo Mining Asia Pacific CEO Paul Bean said "This contract award signals Sodexo’s success and commitment in continuing to deliver high quality facility management solutions at the right cost, safely and in collaboration with local communities.

Additionally the Amrun contract presents us with an exciting opportunity to significantly increase employment, training and business development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the region."

Notes to editors

Rio Tinto announced its A$2.6 billion investment in the Amrun project in late 2015. The project is about 40 kilometres south of Rio Tinto’s existing East Weipa and Andoom mines on the Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland and involves the construction of a bauxite mine, processing and port facilities.

At its peak, construction of the project is expected to provide work for around 1100 people. Once operational, Amrun will help to support ongoing employment for the existing workforce of around 1400 employees and contractors at Rio Tinto’s Cape York bauxite operations.

Production and shipping are expected to commence in the first half of 2019, ramping up to full production by the end of the year.

Rio Tinto has a long history of partnering with Traditional Owners on Cape York. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up around 24 per cent of employees and the Amrun project will continue creating opportunities for indigenous people from Cape York and the surrounding region.