Rio Tinto engaging with the Weipa local community.
Rio Tinto has launched a partnership with the Regional Chambers of Commerce & Industry Western Australia (RCCIWA) to support businesses in the Pilbara.
The partnership will introduce workshops and events to connect local businesses to more procurement and project opportunities.
Ivan Vella, Rio Tinto Iron Ore managing director for rail, port and core services, said, “Together, [Rio Tinto and RCCIWA] are aiming to strengthen and develop the capabilities of local businesses in the Pilbara to improve their chances of securing work from Rio Tinto.
“Our iron ore business is planning to spend more than $US5 billion ($6.7bn) of replacement and sustaining capital through to 2020, providing increased opportunities for local businesses to participate in these projects.”
Vella said the company would focus on developing local capacity in multiple key areas, such as safety, risk management and commercial value.
An initial 12-month programme will be delivered in collaboration with the Karratha & Districts Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KDCCI) and the Pilbara Inland Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PICCI).
The company continues to invest in new developments in Australia, such as the Silvergrass iron ore mine in the Pilbara, and the Amrun bauxite project in Cape York, Queensland.
At the Amrun operation, the company has been running recruitment roadshows to highlight employment opportunities, while at the adjacent Weipa bauxite site, three Aboriginal agreements underpin all its activities to ensure the distribution of the site’s social and economic benefits to local communities.
