45 NOVEMBER 2024 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Booth 714 Two New Solar Farms for Gove Peninsula Adapted from Information by Rio Tinto Two new 5.25-megawatt solar farms will be built on Gumatj and Rirratjingu country on the Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory, Australia, as Rio Tinto works to secure a more sustainable power supply for the region beyond mining. The solar farms will be built on Rio Tinto leases, following agreement with the Gumatj and Rirratjingu Traditional Owner Groups on the location of the facilities, and will help underpin a low carbon future for the Gove community after mining operations cease. The Indigenous people of northeast Arnhem Land, the Yolngu, have lived in the region for more than 65,000 years and practice one of the longest living traditional cultures in the world. Rio Tinto’s Gove site, including the township of Nhulunbuy, is located on Aboriginal land. They acknowledge the significant value Yolngu place on their heritage and country, and work in partnership with them throughout the mining process to manage this. Their lease areas contain a wide range of cultural heritage features and values. They can be tangible, such as landscapes and artifacts, along with intangible features including language, music, and customary practice. All heritage features and values are considered as being of equal value. If a site or an object is identified as significant, it is protected from mining. Aggreko will construct, own, and operate the solar farms for Rio Tinto for up to ten years. Rio Tinto Gove Operations Acting General Manager Shannon Price said, “The Gove solar project is part of our shared vision with Traditional Owners to leave a positive legacy for the Gove Peninsula communities after bauxite mining ceases. We’re excited to work with the Gumatj and Rirratjingu clans to provide an opportunity to secure alternative electricity generation assets on their country and to discuss opportunities to commercialize energy infrastructure in the future. The solar farms are also part of our ongoing commitment to decarbonize our business. Once operational, they are expected to reduce annual carbon dioxide equivalent emissions at their Gove operations by up to 17%.” ENV
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