Land-use deal for Pilbara green energy plant

An Indigenous-backed clean energy project targeting offtake deals with the Pilbara’s major resources firms has gained a crucial land-use deal to progress the $1 billion first stage.

Yindjibarndi traditional owners on Monday registered an Indigenous land-use agreement with ACEN Corporation for the 750-megawatt Yindjibarndi Energy project south-east of Karratha.

The deal establishes ground rules for Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) to progress with the blessing of traditional owners, who own 25 per cent of the project through Yindjibarndi business Yiyangu.

Yindjibarndi people will be eligible to claim up to 50 per cent equity should the project proceed.

Under terms of the deal the final site will need to be approved by traditional owners and will be subject to a strict heritage protection agreement

The proponents will also be barred from applying for section 18s to destroy Aboriginal heritage sites without consent of traditional owners.

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Michael Woodley said the ILUA placed traditional owners at the forefront of the clean energy transition.

“The partnership with ACEN gives Yindjibarndi control over how our country is developed, rather than other companies,” he said.

“Large-scale renewable energy is aligned with Yindjibarndi’s vision to create community owned commercial businesses that protect ngurra [country], build a stronger community and respect culture.

“Yindjibarndi people are an equity owner of YEC so the money made from selling renewable energy goes directly back to Yindjibarndi people.”

Stage one of the energy project would see up to 750MW of solar and battery storage built.

The first part of this stage, named Jinbi, would be a 75 to 150MW solar plant.

Rio Tinto in October last year entered a memorandum of understanding to work with YEC on renewable energy projects.

Under the second stage, Yindjibarndi Energy could expand to as much as three gigawatts or solar, wind and battery power.

ACEN Australia managing director David Pollington said discussions with further offtake partners had been encouraging.

A final investment decision is expected by the end of 2024.

Progress at the Yindjibarndi project follows the joint venture East Kimberley Clean Energy Project.

Backed by Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation, MG Corporation, Kimberley Land Council, and investor Pollination, the 75 per cent Indigenous-owned venture was in March awarded $1.6 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to progress the 2,000-hectare solar and pumped hydro project.

Four major First Nations-led green energy projects are in the works in Western Australia.

In the Goldfields the Tjiwarl people are pressing ahead with power projects on land home to Northern Star, IGO, and Liontown mines with Zenith Energy.

On the Eucla coast the Mirning people hold 10 per cent equity in InterContinental Energy and CWP Global’s $75 billion Western Green Energy Hub.

A final investment decision on that project is due in 2027.