Rio Tinto and WA govt team up on Pilbara water
The Western Australian government has signed a memorandum of understanding to join forces with mining company Rio Tinto to strengthen water security in the Pilbara.
The West Pilbara Water Supply Scheme (WPWSS) supplies the towns of Karratha, Wickham, Dampier, Roebourne, Point Samson and the industrial areas of Cape Lambert and the Burrup Peninsula.
Over the past five years the West Pilbara has frequently experienced yearly rainfall and streamflow below the long-term average. This has reduced groundwater recharge at Millstream and Bungaroo borefields, as well as surface water runoff at Harding Dam, which supply the WPWSS.
Abstraction from these sources is of significant concern to Traditional Owner groups such as the Yindjibarndi and Robe River Kuruma People.
Rio Tinto’s delivery of Stage 1 of the Dampier seawater desalination plant, at its existing Parker Point operations, will provide 4 GL/y of water. This will reduce abstraction from the Bungaroo borefield and is expected to be operational in 2026.
Negotiations between Water Corporation and Rio Tinto will assess, and if feasible, consider options to deliver Stage 2 which is expected to be operational in 2027. This will add a further 4 GL/y of water to shore up a short-term supply of drinking water through the West Pilbara scheme and will also reduce pressure on the Millstream Aquifer.
“We are pleased to partner with the Western Australian government in Stage 2 of the Dampier seawater desalination plant. We also welcome the news that it is prioritising the delivery of a further desalination plant for the region,” commented Rio Tinto iron-ore CEO Simon Trott.
He said that government’s large-scale plant would support Rio Tinto’s transition pathway to zero abstraction from the Bungaroo coastal supply borefield, as well as deliver clear benefits to the broader West Pilbara community.
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