WA businesses to share in $1 billion worth of local contracts

• $1 billion worth of contracts awarded to WA businesses for Western Range project
• Pilbara mine joint venture between Rio Tinto and Baowu Steel
• Cook Government welcomes investment and significant boost to local content

Construction has commenced on the Western Range Pilbara iron ore mine with $1 billion worth of local contracts awarded to Western Australian businesses already. 

The Western Range project operates under a joint venture between Rio Tinto (54 per cent) and their long-standing customer of more than 40 years, Baowu Steel (46 per cent).  

Premier Roger Cook welcomed the significant milestone, and this week met with a senior delegation from Baowu Steel following the State Government's recent mission to China to explore and grow trade and investment opportunities for WA.

Western Range will support 1,600 construction jobs and 800 operation jobs and will complement production from Rio Tinto's existing Paraburdoo mining hub, which includes construction of a primary crusher and an 18-kilometre conveyor system linking it to the existing Paraburdoo processing plant.

It is expected the mine will have an annual capacity of 25 million tonnes of iron ore and will commence in 2025.

The Western Range project milestone comes as the Cook Government this week released a new report highlighting the potential for WA to join the rapidly growing global green steelmaking value chain. The report delivers on an important election commitment of green jobs and green steel manufacturing. 

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

"The Pilbara continues to roar as the engine room of our country's economy.

"It's significant projects like the Western Range that reinforces Western Australia as an attractive and secure destination for business and investment.

"I commend Rio Tinto and Baowu Steel on this latest project milestone which has resulted in numerous Western Australian businesses benefiting from construction contracts worth millions of dollars.

"The boost to local content goes to the heart of our WA Jobs Plan which is about preferencing WA workers and local businesses.

"It's through significant projects like these that we can build a long pipeline of work for Western Australians into the future."

Comments attributed to Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston:

"It's great to see WA businesses benefit from another significant investment into our State's powerhouse and world-leading iron ore industry.

"This long-term investment by Rio Tinto and Baowu Steel highlights the confidence the joint venture partners have in WA as a safe, secure and stable mining jurisdiction."

Comments attributed to Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel:

"It's vital that businesses operating in the region keep investing in growing opportunities to benefit WA workers and the local community.

"Developments like this position the Pilbara as the best place to invest and do business."