Solar to cut costs at Rio’s Weipa site
Rio Tinto may be about to cut its annual fuel bill at its remote Weipa bauxite mine by one-fifth through what is being heralded as the solar industry world’s first major venture with a mining major, reports the Australian Financial Review.
The 1.7MW solar power plant, to be developed by US player First Solar, could be expanded by 5MW in a second phase, involving a $23.4 million investment.
It should become the blueprint for similar ventures with mining companies in Australia and elsewhere, said Jack Curtis, the firm’s vice-president of business development in Asia at the US firm.
Curtis said First Solar was in talks for similar ventures with other miners in Australia, despite the uncertainty over the future of the country’s renewable energy regulations.
Farmers accuse Santos of CSG contamination
Farmers opposed to Santos's coalseam operations in northwest NSW have begun action to force the company to reveal information about alleged contamination of two water bores near exploration wells, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord applied to the NSW Land and Environment Court yesterday to get Santos to release water-monitoring data related to drilling near one farmer's property south of Narrabri. The NSW Environmental Defender's Office is representing the group.
The grazier, Tony Pickard, had previously made public concerns that two of his bores had begun producing undrinkable water in 2012, forcing him to install rainwater tanks. The bores are 1-2km from seven active CSG wells, known as the Dewhurst 8 pilot site, on a neighbouring property.
BHP to ask feds for help in row
BHP Billiton has indicated it will appeal to the federal government to intervene in its standoff with the Maritime Workers Union as it looks to stave off strike action that may cost it and other iron ore miners more than $100 million a day, according to The Australian.
BHP’s head of iron ore, Jimmy Wilson, told reporters in Perth yesterday that the company would “use every arrow in the quiver” to avoid a strike by tugboat workers at Port Hedland that could shut down shipments at the world’s largest iron ore port.
