Thanks to an investment of A$150 million to purchase 100 locally built rail cars, Rio Tinto is helping to boost domestic manufacturing in Western Australia through a partnership with Gemco Rail and CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co.
The miner said Gemco Rail is using advanced engineering and manufacturing expertise, alongside robotic welding technologies, to create rail cars that will each carry up to 118 tonnes of iron ore from Rio Tinto’s 17 mines in the Pilbara to its ports.
The first 40 rail cars will be built at Gemco Rail’s Forrestfield facility in Perth, as it sets up a manufacturing workshop in Karratha, where 60 more rail cars will be made, starting later this year.
“We want to support local business and create new economic opportunities in the communities where we operate,” said Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott.
“By partnering with Gemco Rail and CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock, we are establishing new manufacturing capability in the Pilbara that will create a reliable and sustainable supply chain to support our operations and the regional economy for years to come.”
Rio Tinto uses about 13,500 iron ore rail cars across its Pilbara iron ore rail network. The first locally made rail cars by Gemco are expected to start hauling ore in the first half of 2025.
Source: Rio Tinto