Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation recently celebrated a significant milestone with the arrival of its 150th fuel consignment and 13 years of success in its joint venture with Cambridge Gulf Limited (CGL).

Key points:

• Rirratjingu Fuel now supplies more than 50 million litres of diesel each year across the Gove Peninsula
• RAC has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation (LHAC) to assess the feasibility of partnering with the region’s Traditional Owners to establish a roadhouse along Central Arnhem Road
• RAC Chairman Wanyubi Marika says it is imperative to develop self-sustaining businesses to support the long-term economic stability of the region.

RAC board members, management, CGL chief executive Tony Chafer, and stakeholders welcomed the tanker as it arrived at Gove Port last Tuesday.

Rirratjingu Fuel was established in 2013 as a joint venture between RAC and CGL to provide diesel across North East Arnhem Land, serving both community needs and commercial objectives.

The company now supplies more than 50 million litres of diesel each year across the Gove Peninsula, with more than 600 million litres delivered to date. This includes supply to Rio Tinto's Gove bauxite operation as well as to a facility established at the Yirrkala store, ensuring community members have reliable and convenient access to fuel.

RAC has also entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation (LHAC) to assess the feasibility of partnering with the region's Traditional Owners to establish a roadhouse along Central Arnhem Road. Opportunities for State and Federal funding are currently being explored to support the proposal.

RAC Chairman Wanyubi Marika said with Rio Tinto planning to scale down operations in the next few years, it was imperative to develop self-sustaining businesses that supported the long-term economic stability of the region.

"Rirratjingu Fuel is a good example of our plans to shape the path forward for Rirratjingu people as we head into a new era," he said.

"We have established and maintained a secure and reliable supply chain delivering diesel from Singapore into Gove, which is one of Australia's most remote locations. That includes maintaining a consistent supply throughout the nation's fuel crisis that brought many industries to a halt.

"We're very proud of the company's achievements and look forward to extending our service delivery into the future."

Mr Marika is important to Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation "that we focus on creating a future that honours our traditions and complements our cultural values and wellbeing; and improving liveability across our remote homelands reflects these values".

He said Rirratjingu Fuel continues to investigate expansion opportunities that would help his people build a resilient local economy beyond mining.