Large Australian iron ore contract awarded to KBR

Global engineering, construction and services company KBR announced this week that it has been awarded a contract to provide engineering, procurement management and construction management for the Hope Downs 4 iron ore mine in remote Western Australia. The scope of the project is valued at $1.285 billion USD. The project is part of a joint venture between Rio Tinto, the world's second largest iron ore producer and Hancock Prospecting. Rio Tinto will develop and operate the Hope Downs 4 mine as manager of the joint venture, for which KBR completed both the preliminary and final definitive engineering studies.

KBR will provide design, engineering, procurement management, project and construction management for the 15 million dry tonnes per annum mine, which is located 620 miles (1000km) north of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2011, subject to regulatory approvals and be completed in early 2013.

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