Australia-based miner Rio Tinto has announced that it has agreed with Australia-based Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) to develop an 80MW solar farm in Ngarluma Country, near Karratha, to supply renewable energy to the company’s iron ore operations in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. A feasibility study is expected to be completed in early 2025, with commissioning in 2027.
The project, which is expected to be located next to Rio Tinto’s existing Yurralyi Maya Power Station, has the potential to displace up to 11 percent of natural gas currently used for generation across Rio Tinto’s integrated mining operations in the Pilbara, reducing the company’s emissions. According to the statement, it is estimated that 600-700 MW of renewable energy will be required by 2030 to displace the majority of natural gas use across Rio Tinto’s Pilbara power network.