Rio Tinto, the world's second-largest metals and mining corporation, has recently inked the biggest renewable power purchase agreement (PPA) ever recorded in Australia. The main aim of this PPA is to supply its Gladstone operations in Queensland with electricity sourced from Windlab's upcoming 1.4GW Bungaban wind energy venture.
This agreement, following closely on the heels of last month's PPA announcement for the Upper Calliope solar farm in Queensland, signifies Rio Tinto's position as Australia's foremost industrial purchaser of renewable energy. It marks another significant stride in the company's efforts to repower its Gladstone production assets towards renewable sources, including the Boyne aluminium smelter, Yarwun alumina refinery, and Queensland Alumina refinery.
By the new PPA with Windlab, Rio Tinto will acquire 80 per cent of the total electricity generated by the Bungaban wind energy project for 25 years. The project, currently in its early development stages, is set to be constructed and managed by Windlab at a site in Queensland situated approximately 40 kilometres from the town of Wandoan and 290 kilometres southwest of Gladstone, pending necessary development and grid connection approvals.
