Article by Adrian Rauso , courtesy of The West Australian
30.05.2025
NRW Holdings is reaping the rewards of Rio Tinto’s iron ore replenishment pipeline with a second contract from the mining giant in the space of three months.
NRW’s wholly owned subsidiary Primero Group was awarded a $157 million contract by Rio to build the non-process infrastructure facilities for two new mining deposits being developed to extend the life of Hope Downs 1.
The Pilbara iron ore mine is co-owned by Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting and Rio, with the latter running the operation.
Primero will be responsible for the design, supply, installation, construction, testing, commissioning and handover of non-process infrastructure works at the Hope Downs 1 extension project.
Non-process infrastructure can include product warehouses, material handling buildings, vehicle cleaning bays, airport terminals and accommodation facilities.
The contract is scheduled for completion in December next year with site works expected to commence in the final quarter of this year.
“This award represents the continuation of our long-term relationship with Rio Tinto through the delivery of world-class infrastructure projects,” Primero managing director Michael Gollschewski said.
In March NRW won a $100m contract from Rio to help build a seawater desalination plant at Dampier.
Rio is building the plant following pressure from local Aboriginal groups over what they say is an excessive extraction of groundwater for mining operations.
Shares in NRW spiked more than 3 per cent in early trade before those gains pared back to less than one per cent by 8.55am.
The Jules Pemberton-led business has lost more than 25 per cent of its value since the start of the year after being stung by the collapse of Whyalla Steelworks in South Australia.
