Samsung to pay Roy Hill subcontractor $12m

Samsung C&T will be forced to pay a subcontractor at Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill iron ore project in WA's Pilbara region about $12 million after partially losing a court battle.

Since late last year, subcontractor Duro Felguera Australia has been making monthly progress claims for payment, but main contractor Samsung has not been paying the company.

The matter went to the WA Supreme Court, with Duro making five applications seeking a total payment of more than $60 million.

But in his judgment handed down on Friday, Justice Andrew Beech ruled only about $12 million should be paid.

The project involved developing a new iron ore mine at the Roy Hill deposit, about 277 kilometres south of Port Hedland, as well as a processing plant, a heavy haul railway system from mine to port, and new port facilities.

Samsung has also had a legal dispute with Roy Hill over the project.