Western Australian mining company Mineral Resources (MinRes) has announced that its port operations at the Port of Ashburton are now fully powered by natural gas. The move represents a key milestone in MinRes' strategy to reduce emissions while improving the efficiency and sustainability of export infrastructure.
Strategic role in the Onslow iron ore supply chain
The Port of Ashburton, located approximately 150 kilometers from the Kens Bor iron ore mine in the Pilbara region in Western Australia plays a crucial role in Onslow's iron ore supply. chain.
Iron ore mined by the project is transported to the port and loaded onto purpose-built 20,000-tonne transhipment vehicles, which then transport the material out to sea for transfer onto bulk carriers. Therefore, a reliable and efficient power supply to the port is essential to maintaining uninterrupted export operations.
Gas infrastructure allows phasing out of diesel fuel
The Ministry of Resources stated that the port's energy system includes a 14 MW gas-fired power plant, which is now connected to Wheatstone Ashburton West gas pipeline. This connection allowed a complete switch from diesel fuel to natural gas for port operations.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, the transition to natural gas is expected to lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as optimize logistics and increase operational reliability.
