Rio Tinto awards $45 million contract to QLD division of Fulton Hogan

Rio Tinto has awarded a contract valued at $45 million to the Queensland division of civil construction company Fulton Hogan.

The company will build a dam supplying water to the world-class Amrun bauxite project in Western Cape York Queensland, Australia.

The 10.9 gigalitre dam will be called ‘Arraw’, a name chosen by the Traditional Owners and the local word for Emu.

Fulton Hogan will develop the impoundment area, embankment and intake infrastructure for the dam and other critical supporting infrastructure including the spillway, fishway and access corridor.

Rio Tinto Growth & Innovation group executive Stephen McIntosh said "As an industry leader Fulton Hogan will bring great expertise to the construction of Arraw dam and create 120 jobs for local workers.

"Fulton Hogan is a renowned leader in building water storage for dams and reservoirs in challenging terrains. We look forward to our successful collaboration on this project."

Fulton Hogan chief executive officer for construction Peter Kessler said "We are delighted to bring our dam building technology and innovation to the Amrun project. Our construction teams are experienced in the challenges of working in a bulk water environment and strictly share Rio Tinto’s commitment to a safe work environment."

The contract is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2017.

Notes to editors

Rio Tinto announced its $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.

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

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.

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.