Mineral Resources (MinRes) is establishing the building blocks to support the future electrification of its Onslow Iron operation in WA.
MinRes recently constructed a dedicated gas pipeline, extending 16km underground from the Goldfields gas pipeline to the power station at the Ken’s Bore mine site, located about 200km southwest of Onslow.
The gas pipeline will be fully operational by the end of October and will assist in reducing Onslow Iron’s dependency on diesel fuel.
Upsized to a 55-terajoule-per-day capacity, the gas pipeline has been future proofed to cater for the mine’s future electrification which will require both gas and renewables to displace diesel engines.
MinRes chief executive energy Darren Hardy said the Ken’s Bore gas pipeline highlighted MinRes’ unique internal expertise and capability.
“By utilising in-house knowledge and expertise from our energy and construction teams, we’ve delivered a project that will drive the electrification of Ken’s Bore,” he said.
“Our energy division continues to support our growth by pursuing access to low-cost, reliable and cleaner fuel to power our operations.”
MinRes chief executive of engineering and construction Darren Killeen said teams worked through several challenges, including the need for specialised rock blasting in the trench and navigating several interfaces and projects running at the same time.
“The Ken’s Bore gas pipeline was completed safely and efficiently thanks to a collaborative effort from two of our key business pillars,” he said.
“The quality of work delivered was outstanding, showcasing the significant expertise within our business.”
A solar array at Ken’s Bore is planned to be operational by January 2025 to supplement the mine’s power generation system.
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