Energy

Belmont-based Zenith Energy has been selected as preferred contractor to build a 62-megawatt power station at Newmont’s Tanami gold mine, edging out incumbent provider Pacific Energy.

Three Western Australian projects with a focus on clean energy technology, including an artificial reef in Exmouth, will share in $4.8 million funding announced by National Energy Resources Australia today.

TransAlta officially opened its new 150-megawatt combined cycle natural gas power station in South Hedland today, with Horizon Power as its sole foundation customer after Fortescue Metals Group backed out of an offtake agreement.

A local power generator majority owned by Rod Jones’s Hoperidge Capital has refinanced its bank debt through a $44 million bond issue which the company believes will give it more flexibility, including the potential to pursue a 100-megawatt solar farm.

Western Power plans to reduce spending by nearly $1 billion in the next five years compared to the five years just gone, according to a proposal by the state-owned network operator to the state’s economic regulator.

Horizon Power will roll out a $7.1 million distributed energy pilot project in Carnarvon, while the state government has unveiled a trial to incentivise demand management by users during peak periods in Broome.

Even those with only a passing interest in the resources sector would recognise there’s something unusual about an iron ore miner talking up a natural gas project and an oilman talking it down.

Pilbara Minerals has struck an agreement to work on the possible development of a lithium processing facility in joint venture with South Korean companies Polaris Shipping and LG Chem.

Synergy intends to develop up to 280 megawatts of renewable energy projects in WA by 2020 after the McGowan government approved plans for a private investor to acquire a majority stake in its existing wind farm and solar farm and in two new projects.