The miner kicked off the programme in May 2017 via an online portal that encourages regional suppliers to be a part of its supply chain.

Indigenous-owned civil and concrete construction group Baru will upgrade stackers and conveyors at Rio Tinto's Brockman 2 operation, including earthworks and a structural upgrade to the stacker rail sleepers and conveyor foundations.

Baru is expected to complete the project by the end of this year.

"The [work award] programme is gaining momentum, and we have now received more than 3,000 expressions of interest from suppliers for work published on the online platform, the Local Procurement Portal," Rio Tinto iron ore managing director for Pilbara mines Stefan Buys said.

"Rio Tinto aims to make a significant contribution to our local communities by making sure we provide opportunities for local businesses to benefit from our activities. Our procurement practices, and those of our contractors, help sustain many Western Australian and Pilbara-based businesses."