A major agreement has been signed between Fortescue and Nyamal Traditional Custodians in which Nyamal will provide a fleet of mining equipment for Fortescue’s Iron Bridge Magnetite Project.
As part of the $18 million agreement, which builds on the $331 million in contracts already awarded to Nyamal businesses since 2019, Nyamal Holdings will initially provide five contour drill rigs, one stemming loader and two platform rigs to Fortescue. This will grow to include six additional platform rigs over the next two years to meet the Iron Bridge mine plan.
A total of $3.6 billion in goods and services have been sourced within Western Australia for the Iron Bridge project and operations.
As well as this, more than $4.5 billion in contracts have been awarded through Fortescue’s Billion Opportunities program to over 140 Indigenous Australian businesses since its inception in 2011.
Fortescue Metals CEO, Fiona Hick, said the drill and blast program at Iron Bridge represents one of the most crucial aspects to achieving maximum throughput in the processing plant and that Fortescue is pleased that it has been able to partner with Nyamal to deliver this important capability.
“From the outset, Fortescue has been focused on practical initiatives that drive economic and employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians. Contracts like this support the growth of Indigenous businesses, enabling them to build capability which in turn provides ongoing economic benefits to communities.”
Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation Chair, Gavin Mitchell, said, “Nyamal Holdings are excited to secure this significant contract for the Nyamal people enabling us to own the fleet which will provide ongoing training and employment opportunities for Nyamal members.
“Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation has strong and ongoing engagement with Fortescue, and we are pleased that through this contract we are able to build on this long standing relationship.”
Featured image: Travis McPhee, Graham Howard, Martin Drage, Danny Brown, Fiona Hick, and Gavin Mitchell in attendance for the signing of the agreement. Image credit: Fortescue.
