Rio Tinto seeks to repurpose old mine sites in 600MW renewables push

Mining giant Rio Tinto is considering using old mines for solar power farms in an effort to decarbonise its supply chain in the Pilbara in Western Australia.

In total, the company is attempting to create 600MW of renewable generation to replace most of the gas it uses to extract iron ore.

As part of a Pilbara site visit for potential investors earlier this month, iron ore chief executive Simon Trott highlighted six potential solar farms and five wind farms as part of the Pilbara network.

The company is also considering using former mines as locations for possible solar farms, according to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald.

“We are looking at a couple of our sites and our pits where we have closed,” Rio’s port and rail operations managing director Richard Cohen told the paper.

Rio is also in talks with traditional owners for other sites that might be appropriate for renewables.

In the third quarter of 2023, Rio Tinto’s iorn ore shipments from the Pilbara made up 83.9 million tonnes.

“As we head into the fourth quarter of 2023 we are in a strong and stable position. We have systematically improved our operating performance, reset relationships with external stakeholders and established a foundation for the future,” said Trott.

The company has previously announced a global commitment to invest approximately $7.5 billion to halve its emissions by 2030.

Rio Tinto opened its first 34MW solar farm at its newest mine Gudai Darri last year which is currently producing 43 million tonnes of iron ore a year.

It is also commissioning 45MW of battery storage at Tom Price, and has announced plans for two 100MW solar farms and 200MWh of battery storage in the Pilbara as part of a $3 billion renewable plan.

Three big Pilbara iron ore miners – Fortescue, BHP and Rio Tinto – are moving towards renewables and battery storage due to market pressure to lower their emissions, but also because once installed renewables and battery storage is cheaper than gas.