Tag Archives: Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility

FMG to lead from the front in Pilbara renewable energy pursuit

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Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) has signed an agreement with Alinta Energy that will see up to 100% of daytime stationary energy requirements at its Chichester Hub iron ore operations, in the Pilbara of Western Australia, powered by renewable energy.

The Chichester Solar Gas Hybrid project will see the construction of a 60 MW solar photovoltaic generation facility at the Chichester Hub, comprising Fortescue’s Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak iron ore mining operations.

In addition, an approximately 60-km transmission line linking the Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak mining operations with Alinta Energy’s Newman gas-fired power station and a 35 MW battery facility will be constructed, with completion due mid-2021.

FMG said: “Once completed, up to 100% of daytime stationary energy requirements at the Chichester Hub will be provided by solar generation, with the remaining power requirements to be met through the integrated battery storage and gas power station facilities.”

The project is expected to displace around 100 million litres annually of diesel used in the existing Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak power stations, according to FMG.

Fortescue Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Gaines, said: “Reliable and competitive energy generation remains an important consideration for the mining sector in Western Australia and as a significant consumer of energy, we continue to identify opportunities that have the potential to lower our costs while also improving our carbon footprint.

“This landmark project is a first on this scale for the Pilbara and will reduce carbon emissions from stationary generation by around 40% at Fortescue’s Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak mining operations, while driving long-term sustainable cost reductions to maintain Fortescue’s global cost leadership position.”

Gaines added that the agreement with Alinta Energy represented a further step in the creation of Fortescue’s Pilbara Energy Connect project, which builds on the company’s previous energy initiatives, including the construction of the Fortescue River Gas Pipeline, the conversion of the Solomon Power Station from diesel to gas generation, as well as a partnership agreement with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation to develop and commercialise hydrogen technologies.

As part of the agreement, FMG will invest an estimated $250 million in energy transmission infrastructure to complete the integration of Fortescue’s iron ore operations in the Pilbara into an efficient energy network.

Alinta Energy Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Dimery, said: “We’d like to thank Fortescue and our Chichester Hub project partners for helping to make the company’s long-held vision for a cleaner and more connected energy supply for the Pilbara a reality.

“There’s a lot to be proud of in this project. 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 Energy will receive federal funding of A$24.2 million ($16.5 million) from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and A$90 million from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), upon satisfaction of standard conditions.

The NAIF loan remains subject to ratification from the Western Australian Government.

NAIF Chief Executive Officer, Laurie Walker said: “NAIF’s A$90 million loan for this project will help provide low emission renewable energy generation for large off-grid customers and paves the way towards the creation of a more interconnected regional energy grid in the Pilbara.

“The project innovatively combines solar and gas fired power to compensate for the variability of solar sourced energy. This investment by NAIF offers the opportunity to make a long-term difference to the Pilbara.”

ARENA Chief Executive Officer, Darren Miller, said: “The project could unlock further investment in renewable energy in the mining sector and other remote and energy intensive operations.

“Alinta’s project will demonstrate how renewable energy solutions can deliver critical energy requirements for major mining operations and help reduce emissions. This will also show how interconnection of loads and different generation and storage -including solar, gas and battery storage -can provide secure and reliable electricity.”

Kalium Lakes secures gas supply and transport for Beyondie SOP project

Energy minerals, Mineral project development, Mining services, Power supply for mines, , , , , , , , ,

Kalium Lakes has secured key contracts with APA Group and Shell Energy Australia for the transportation and supply of gas to meet the requirements of its Beyondie sulphate of potash project (BSOPP), in Western Australia.

These contracts will provide 1 Tj/d of gas to produce 90,000 t/y of SOP and also allows for expansion to support increased production and production of magnesium by-products, according to Kalium Lakes.

Shell Energy’s gas will be used at the BSOPP site for power generation, steam generation and product drying during operations, while APA Group’s 88.2%-owned Goldfields Gas Pipeline (GGP) will transport and deliver gas via a new, purpose built metering and connection facility. Early works have commenced with APA on the design of the new metering facility.

These contracts – and others, such as ones associated with engineering, procurement, construction management and commissioning – are subject to a final investment decision (due shortly) and subsequent notice from Kalium Lakes that it is ready to commence commissioning and production operations, the company said.

Kalium Lakes’ Chief Development Officer, Rudolph van Niekerk, said: “The close proximity and ease of access to the GGP offers significant cost advantages to the BSOPP, which has allowed Kalium Lakes to own and operate its own gas pipeline, spur and gas fired power station with funding provided by the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.

“Importantly, the award of the gas supply and gas transport operations contracts to Shell and APA are also within the budget allocated in the BFS and FEED outcomes. We can now also confirm that approximately 50% of our FOB cash operating costs have now been locked in, again on budget.”

The BSOPP project aims to commence production at 82,000 t/y of SOP in 2020, before ramping up to 164,000 t/y of SOP for domestic and international sale. An initial mine life of between 30-50 years is anticipated for a project designed to be a low cost, long life and high margin producer, it said.

Sheffield Resources’ Thunderbird mineral sands project to use LNG

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Sheffield Resources has secured a 15-year agreement with Woodside Energy and Energy Developments Pty Ltd (EDL) for the supply and delivery of 1,950 TJ/y of liquified natural gas (LNG) to its Thunderbird mineral sands project in northern Western Australia.

LNG will be supplied from Woodside’s Pluto LNG truck loading facility, near Karratha in Western Australia (pictured), and transported to Thunderbird’s LNG storage facility by a newly formed joint venture between Woodside and Energy Developments. The JV will own and operate a purpose-built road tanker fleet to safely and reliably deliver the LNG to Thunderbird. This is customary with other gas logistic arrangements in place for the towns of Broome, Derby and other communities in the Kimberley region, according to Sheffield.

“The advantage of using LNG at Thunderbird is three-fold, providing Sheffield with a low-cost, low-emission fuel source that is ideally suited to the ilmenite low temperature roast (LTR) process proposed for the Thunderbird processing plant,” Sheffield said.

As previously announced, Sheffield has secured infrastructure funding support from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF).

“Part of the A$95 million ($68 million) financing package will be allocated to the proposed Thunderbird LNG storage and power station facilities, which will be constructed and operated under separate agreement with third parties,” the company said.

“This arrangement will enable Sheffield to capture long-term gas supply cost savings relative to the bankable feasibility study (BFS) published in March 2017. The BFS assumed an outsourced LNG storage and power station facility model on a build own and operate basis.”

The NAIF funding arrangements enable in-sourcing of LNG storage and power station facilities to take place, providing significant reduction in operating costs compared with the BFS assumptions, according to the company.

The agreement is subject to several customary conditions precedent, including the company making a final investment decision toward the development of Thunderbird.

Sheffield Resources Managing Director, Bruce McFadzean, said: “The project is now fully permitted and construction ready, with offtake and financing agreements in place. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Woodside and EDL as we move toward development during 2019.”

Back in November, Sheffield signed up GR Engineering Services to build a 7.5 Mt/y mineral processing plant and associated facilities at Thunderbird.