Australian construction, mining and services contractor Thiess announced on September 20 that it won a major $100 million contract with Australia's third-biggest iron ore producer Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (Fortescue) for the first phase of development works on the Solomon Hub iron ore mine in Western Australia's Pilbara region.
The 18 month contract is for initial pioneering and mine establishment works such as haul roads, stockpile pads and the mining of early ore and waste. The work will establish the Solomon area for long term mining operations.
The Solomon Hub mine is part of Fortescue's Three Hub Strategy in the Pilbara, which will see overall annual production boosted to in excess of 155 million mt over the coming years. The Solomon Hub mine is expected to start producing iron ore in 2012