Rio Tinto is investing over $510 million in sustainable power generation to support expansion of its iron ore mining capacity in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Generation and transmission infrastructure worth $513 million will be built near Karratha to supply electricity to its port and mine operations, adjacent to the 7 Mile Rail Operations site.
The new power station will use natural gas turbines, which will significantly reduce emission rates.
The two steam power stations currently in operation at the Cape Lambert and Dampier ports will be decommissioned.
Rio Tinto will build a 220kv power line from the new power station to Cape Lambert. Greenhouse gas emissions are anticipated to be reduced by as much as 200,000 tpa, based on an anticipated annual production rate of 220 million tonnes of iron ore.
Rio Tinto is responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to its mines, ports and associated towns. The power station will be commissioned in 2010.
This article was first published in the Resource and Energy Projects Services (REPS) newsletter.
Sam Walsh
Chief Executive
Rio Tinto Iron Ore
03 9283 3628
www.riotinto.com