PMW Industries, a hundred per cent Banjima Pilbara Aboriginal Traditional Owner owned and operated business, has signed an agreement with BHP to operate a semi-mobile crushing and screening plant at Mining Area C, in the Western Australian Pilbara region.
Located north of Newman, WA, Mining Area C opened in 2003. The mine is one of nine iron ore mines that are part of Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) and consists of eight open-cut mines with three ore handling plants.
WAIO has been developing a strong relationship with PMW for over three years, via the miner’s Local Buying Program. This is an initiative run by BHP, BHP Mitsubishi Alliance and Stanmore Resources that supports small local businesses to supply goods and services to the mines run by these organisations, via a competitive tender process. The businesses must have a physical presence near one of BHP Minerals’ core assets. This gave the advantage to PMW Industries, which will be operating on the country.
The crushing contract is one of the largest awarded in WAIO’s history, according to WAIO asset president Brandon Craig, who said he was proud of the growing relationship between BHP and PMW Industries.
“Our Mining Area C iron ore operation is on Banjima country – in line with our commitment to become the partner of choice for Indigenous people, this partnership is founded on respect and mutual benefit. We are working hard to create more opportunities for Indigenous businesses to support the growth of the Indigenous enterprise, partnering for the future,” he said.
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The contract will create 30 new jobs as well as training opportunities for the Banjima people.
PMW is based in Karratha, WA, and has over 20 years of rail and civil industry experience. They have a commitment to bringing Aboriginals and locals into a community-based workforce and bring strong local knowledge of the Pilbara region as well as respect for the country to the industry. The company have worked on a range of projects in the area including the Christmas Creek upgrade and Pelican Rail at Rosella.
With over 60 per cent of mining projects located near Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities, the Minerals Council of Australia also promotes First Nations partnerships through Supply Nations, a non for profit that aims to promote supplier diversity in Australia.
Read about GRT’s Haul Road Dust Control Applications in Pilbara Region, Iron Ore Mines here.
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Author – Troy Adams, Global Road Technology
