AfrElec: Rio Tinto launches construction of Madagascar mine renewable project

Rio Tinto QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM) has begun construction of a solar and wind energy project to supply its ilmenite mine in the coastal town of Fort Dauphin.

The renewable energy project, which will comprise 8 MW of solar and 12 MW of wind capacity – due to come online in 2022 and 2023 respectively – is being built by independent power producer (IPP) CrossBoundary Energy under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

The project will meet all of QMM’s electricity needs during peak periods and will provide up to 60% of its yearly electricity consumption. It is vital to QMM’s sustainable mine concept and to enabling operations to reach carbon neutrality by 2023, the Anglo-Australian miner said in a press release.

About 18,000 solar panels and four wind turbines will be installed as part of the project, which will also include an 8.25-MW lithium-ion battery energy storage system.

It will also enable QMM to reduce its CO2 emissions by about 26,000 tonnes per year and its heavy fuel oil purchases by up to 8,500 tpy.

QMM will also replace with clean energy most of the electricity it now supplies to Fort Dauphin and its population of 80,000.