A unit of Australian engineering group Monadelphous Group Ltd. won a A$400 million contract to carry out work for Rio Tinto's Western Turner Syncline phase two iron ore project in Western Australia.

Monadelphous' 60%-owned Mondium Pty. Ltd. will be responsible for all work related to engineering and design, procurement and site construction, including the process plant, overland conveyor and nonprocess infrastructure.

Work will start in the first quarter and is expected to be complete in 2021. Mondium said Jan. 13 that it will collaborate with Rio Tinto to provide local employment and business opportunities in the region.

The new phase of the Western Turner mine will allow Rio Tinto to sustain approved production of 30 million tonnes a year. First ore will be delivered during the third quarter of 2021.

In December 2019, the Western Australian government approved the US$749 million project, which is expected to create more than 1,000 construction jobs.