Teamwork, Ingenuity And Success

26.01.16

Laing O’Rourke played a major role in the delivery of Australia’s largest integrated mining project, Rio Tinto’s Cape Lambert Port B project.

As part of Rio Tinto’s decade-long growth programme to expand their Pilbara iron ore operations, Laing O’Rourke delivered the structural, mechanical and piping, as well as electrical works for the in-loading and out-loading conveyors and transfer stations at the Cape Lambert Port B stockyard facility.

Laing O’Rourke arrived on site in early 2012 and after more than three years delivering approximately $440 million worth of work, the last of the delivery team demobilised in mid-2015.

Laing O’Rourke delivered four major contracts:

  • Phase A Stockyards SMP,
  • Phase B Stockyards SMP,
  • Package 3 Link Works- SMP and E&I; and
  • Phase A&B Machines SMP and E&I.

To commemorate the project and celebrate the many achievements on site, Rio Tinto has also published an e-book - The Cape Lambert Port B project: A story of teamwork, ingenuity and success, as told by the project team.

Laing O’Rourke’s Region Director Stuart Crofts said Laing O’Rourke was extremely proud to have played a major role in the delivery of a project that has been recognised for its substantial contribution to the local, state and national economies.

“The project has also been recognised for setting new benchmarks in occupational health and safety, engineering and design and construction innovation,” Mr Crofts said.

Laing O’Rourke and the project has received industry-wide recognition and praise including most recently being awarded Rio Tinto’s 2015 CEO Safety Award.

When issuing the safety award, Rio Tinto’s Chief Executive Sam Walsh acknowledged the industry leading approach to safety used throughout the life of the project, highlighting a number of tactics, including:

  • Positive EPCM and contractor engagement into a ‘one team’ approach
  • Innovative iCARE programme
  • Excellent use of safety in design
  • Dedicated effort to extend the safety culture beyond the project to overseas suppliers

KEY PROJECT FACTS

  • Worked over 2 million man-hours
  • More than 15,000 tonnes of structural steel manufactured supplied and installed
  • In excess of 35km of process water and fire main pipework supplied and installed
  • Labour force peaked at 600 people/day on site
  • 28 transfer stations supplied and erected.
  • 12.5km of conveyors trusses and gantries assembled and installed