Ann: Rio Tinto ECI Contract Award, page-24

Wobbles....and some collywobbles :
Lendlease, Downer, Watpac, and BGC might all be considered a bit wobbly at the moment as they are in transition.....(RCR off the table altogether)

But RIO woukd have been in negotiation with contractors long ago - so current wobbles may not be a consideration ...

HOWEVER..

..the only ECI I can find....ie the only official confirmation of any negotiation/engagement with any group is with us.
.... except , before that, the surprise involvement of Worley Parsons
(“Rio Tinto selected WorleyParsons to provide engineering services to support the feasibility study phase of the $US2.2 billion ($2.8 billion) Koodaideri project” in August 2017 https://thewest.com.au/business/iro...aideri-project-in-surprise-move-ng-b88579818z)

Soon after WP was chosen to do engineering for the feasibility study, Ric Buratto joined NRW.

Then in May 2018:
“NRW is pleased to announce the award of Early Contract Involvement (ECI) by Rio Tinto for the provision of project development services.”

“NRW will provide services and support through early contractor engagement and assist with providing construction expertise into the development of the sustaining capital program of works.”

There are still competitors out there but a simple Google search shows CIMIC and BHP are very, very close ...would RIO want to strongly align with an entity who appears to be the opposition’s preferred partner ?


And Worley Parsons has some collywobbles of it’s own going on including internal political ones.
. ...ie soon after buying USA Jacob’s Engineering on 23 October 2028 ( a $4.6 billion exercise to double it’s size) share price jitters and 26% holder Dar group, which tried previously to take it over, still in the news. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/bu...d/news-story/cf0cf3d2e78b4a0c8c5b721e3f419efa