Rio Tinto announced plans on Monday to develop an 80-MW solar project to supply green power for its iron ore mining activities in Western Australia. The project will be a joint effort with the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation (NAC), which represents over 50 Indigenous entities.
The photovoltaic (PV) park will be built on Ngarluma Country land, near Karratha in the Pilbara region, close to Rio Tinto's existing Yurralyi Maya Power Station. Once operational, the solar project is expected to displace up to 11% of natural gas used for power generation across Rio Tinto's Pilbara sites.
A feasibility study is set to be completed early next year, with the commissioning of the PV park anticipated in 2027. Rio Tinto estimates that the solar farm could reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by up to 120,000 tonnes annually.
The partnership with NAC highlights Rio Tinto's commitment to exploring renewable energy opportunities. The mining company has indicated that it will need between 600 MW and 700 MW of renewable energy by 2030 to replace the majority of gas used in its Pilbara power network.
