Rio Tinto has signed a power purchasing agreement (PPA) with CrossBoundary Energy for electricity from a hybrid wind and solar plant to supply the former’s QMM ilmenite mine in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar.
The 20-year PPA will see electricity supplied from an 8MW solar facility and a 12MW wind farm to power mining and processing operations.
There will also be a lithium-ion battery energy storage system of up to 8.25MW as reserve capacity to ensure a stable and reliable network.
Up to 60% of the mine’s operations will be covered by the deal.
The solar part of the project will comprise more than 18,000 panels, while the wind farm will consist of up to nine turbines located in the Port Ehoala Park area.
Construction is expected to start this year with the solar plant scheduled to start operations at the beginning 2022.
The wind plant is planned to commence construction in early 2022 and become operational by the end of 2022.
QMM president Ny Fanja Rakotomalala said: “This project is a strong example of our commitment with the government of Madagascar to the sustainable development of the region.
“On a sunny and windy day, all the electricity needed by QMM and the Fort Dauphin community will be generated by the Malagasy sun and wind.
“It is a major step forward on our journey towards a truly sustainable mine, that protects and promotes the uniqueness of Madagascar’s environment and benefits the community with reliable and clean electricity.”
Madagascar Ministry of Energy and Hydrocarbons Secretary General Andriatongarivo Tojonirina Andrisoa said: “The government of Madagascar is committed to the energy transition and to setting up Madagascar to be energy independent, as stated in the President’s Initiative pour l’Emergence de Madagascar.
“QMM’s renewable energy project, technically ambitious with two installations dedicated to solar and wind, is fully aligned with that vision.
“It makes Madagascar a global reference point for the use of renewable energy to supply clean, reliable power in the mining sector and other industries, and to the community.”
Rio Tinto Minerals chief executive Sinead Kaufman said: “With this flagship project, QMM is leading the way at Rio Tinto and in Madagascar in utilizing renewable energy to power mining operations and reduce carbon emissions.”
CrossBoundary Energy Co-founder and Managing Partner Matt Tilleard commented: “Emissions from electricity use in mining is estimated to account for around 1% of all greenhouse gases globally.
“Rio Tinto is leading the way in demonstrating how mines can seize a huge opportunity to reduce these emissions.
“We are focused on delivering cleaner power to businesses and were therefore able to offer Rio Tinto a flexible, fast, all-equity funding approach, combined with our reliable track record as one of Africa’s largest distributed renewable utilities.”