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FMG awards A$350M services contract to Aboriginal firm

Aboriginal-run business' win to support Pilbara iron ore giant

Haydn Black
 Warrikal's staff celebrate their win

Warrikal's staff celebrate their win

The award, made during NAIDOC Week, is the single largest contract under FMG's 10-year-old Billion Opportunities Aboriginal procurement program, and followed a competitive tender process.
 
Warrikal CEO and co-founder, Koori businesswoman Amanda Healy, said the contract built on the company's relationship with FMG.
 
Warrikal was founded in 2017 to provide engineering solutions across the mining, marine and resource sectors. 
 
It has been providing mechanical maintenance, shutdown, and project services across FMG's sites over the past three years.
 
Healy said the award of the contract, and Warrikal's business growth was a testament to the work of its personnel in helping deliver safe and successful ‘innovative engineering solutions'.
 
FMG CEO Elizabeth Gaines said the contract award to Warrikal was the largest to be awarded by Fortescue and among the biggest contracts to be awarded in Australia to a majority-owned Aboriginal business.
 
"Fortescue is committed to supporting sustainable long-term opportunities for Aboriginal businesses," she said.
 
Gaines described procurement as "one of the most powerful levers for social and economic change".
 
"From experience we know that a strong Aboriginal business sector is best placed to create employment and development opportunities for their communities," she said.
 
The Billion Opportunities program has delivered over $3 billion in contracts to Aboriginal
businesses and joint ventures since 2011.
 
In May 2021, FMG's Fortescue Future Industries business unit committed to a target of awarding $1 billion in contracts to Aboriginal businesses and joint ventures on green energy projects by 2030.

 

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