Australia backs solar farm for two Fortescue iron ore mines
The Australian government said on Friday that it will provide more than half the funds for a A$200 million ($136.60 million) solar farm being built by Alinta Energy to help power two iron ore mines in Western Australia’s remote Pilbara region.
Alinta, owned by privately owned Hong Kong conglomerate Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, is planning to build a 60 megawatt (MW) solar farm at Christmas Creek, which would help replace diesel generation at mines owned by Fortescue Metals Group.
The mines also use power from a gas-fired plant owned by Alinta.
“The combination of solar and gas means the mining operation will have clean, secure and reliable energy supply from morning to night,” Energy Minister Angus Taylor said in a statement.
The government said its Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility has agreed to lend up to A$90 million and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will provide a A$24.2 million grant to Alinta.
“Working together, we are on the cusp of demonstrating that renewables can drive Australia’s economic powerhouses forward -even for remote and complex industrial applications,” Alinta Managing Director Jeff Dimery said in a joint statement with ARENA.
The project was considered attractive as it would help cut carbon emissions and ease reliance on imported diesel, reducing Fortescue’s need for about 100 million litres of diesel, ministers and ARENA said in separate statements, adding that this would also bring down power prices.
Fortescue said the project was first on this scale for the Pilbara and would cut carbon emissions from stationary generation by about 40% at its Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak mines, while helping it to keep costs down.
The solar farm is expected to be completed by mid-2021, ARENA said.
source: Mining.com
Top News
Six last month
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 12 tons of ferrotungsten through public tender
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 150 tons of Low-Carbon Ferro Manganese through public tender
Gold price faces worst week since 2021 as Fed signals no rate-cut rush
Gold loses some luster after Trump’s decisive win
Iron ore price flirts with key $100/t level on firm demand, China stimulus hopes
Hedge funds slash bullish wagers on gold over Trump election win
Resolute Mining says it will pay Mali $160 million in tax dispute
Families gather at South African mine shaft where hundreds are feared stuck underground
Higher silver supply to reduce global deficit by 4% in 2024
Sierra Leone woos miners to clean energy with $11 billion plan
Alrosa plans production cuts and staff reduction for 2025
Chile’s rare salt flat fish face threat from lithium mining project
Endeavour Silver raises $73m for Pitarrilla project
BHP to spend up to $14 billion on Chilean copper expansion
Chile’s rare salt flat fish faces threat from lithium mining project
British Columbia creates new mining ministry to tackle critical minerals amid doubts over capacity
China’s germanium, gallium ban could cost the US $3.4 billion
South Africa police standoff with illegal gold miners escalates
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 150 tons of Low-Carbon Ferro Manganese through public tender
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 12 tons of ferrotungsten through public tender
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 150 tons of Low-Carbon Ferro Manganese through public tender
Sierra Leone woos miners to clean energy with $11 billion plan
Alrosa plans production cuts and staff reduction for 2025
Chile’s rare salt flat fish face threat from lithium mining project
Endeavour Silver raises $73m for Pitarrilla project
Chile’s rare salt flat fish faces threat from lithium mining project
British Columbia creates new mining ministry to tackle critical minerals amid doubts over capacity
Newmont sells Ontario gold mine to Orla for $850 million
