Perth-based railcar manufacturer Gemco Rail has rolled out the first iron ore railcar wagon built for mining giant Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO).
Gemco plans to deliver 100 wagons over the next six years to Rio Tinto, with an initial release of 40 and another 10% for six years. This work will include repairing and refurbishing key wagon components.
Under the Local Manufacturing Investment Fund (LMIF), the Western Australian Government has contributed $6.9 million to Gemco to upgrade its Forrestfield facility, as well as establish a new facility in Karratha.
These two projects will provide 17 new jobs to manufacture and maintain railcars.
Manufacturing Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says by working with and supporting companies like Gemco, the government realises its ambitions of building more in Western Australia.
“This means we are directly supporting jobs, particularly in Forrestfield, where we have been building our state-of-the-art Metronet C-Series trains and where Western Power will soon begin building the poles and wires needed to power our state’s energy transition,” Sanderson says.
Premier Roger Cook says diversifying Western Australia’s economy and making more things are key to the plan to maintain the state as the “strongest” economy in the nation.
“This is a clear sign businesses want to make more things here in WA,” Cook says.
“It builds on our government’s proud record of bringing railcar manufacturing back as part of the Metronet.”
Metronet is a multi-government agency responsible for managing extensions to Perth’s rail network.
The Western Australian Government has also invested an additional $340,929 in LMIF funding to Gemco, with the objective to modernise its railcar wagon manufacturing and maintenance plant and equipment at its Forrestfield premises.
The LMIF — a commitment made by the state government ahead of the 2021 state election — has awarded more than $13.5 million to metropolitan and regionally based projects.
It continues to secure an ongoing work stream for local fabricators in the manufacturing and maintenance of iron ore railcar wagons.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Rio Tinto
