Leighton says its joint venture with indigenous contractor Ngarda Civil & Mining has secured a $104 million earthworks contract for Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto.

Under the contract, the Joint Venture will undertake mine pre-strip, bulk earthworks, road-works, drainage works and common services trenching and installation works for the new Hope Downs 4 mine.

“This earthworks package will be a key part of the construction of the $1.12 billion mine which will have an annual capacity of 15 million tonnes,” said Graeme Dunn, General Manager of the Construction Division - Western Region at Leighton Contractors.

“The Joint Venture team look forward to being involved in the Hope Downs 4 mine and assisting Rio Tinto in achieving its ultimate goal of reaching 333 million tonnes per annum capacity in the Pilbara by 2015.”

Rio Tinto is delivering the project on behalf of the Hope Downs JV – a 50:50 unincorporated joint venture between Rio Tinto and Hope Downs Iron Ore.

The Hope Downs 4 mine site is situated approximately 200 km east of Tom Price in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The contract will commence immediately and extend over 12 months.