The Dugald River Solar Farm will provide renewable energy to major mining operations in outback Queensland.
It will provide solar energy to mining projects by MMG Limited, Mount Isa Mines and New Century which are all major resources companies in the North West Minerals Province. "The North West region has a huge renewable resource. Our strategy for being in the North West is to support our mining customers as they continue to look to decarbonise with renewable energy solutions," she said.The North West Minerals Province has an estimated worth of $500 billion, according to the Queensland government.
"Not only that, as countries are having to build more to accommodate rising populations, demand for these metals will surge."Australia is on the cusp of another mining boom in critical metals to feed the world’s insatiable appetite for technology, but any new mines could still be years away.However, one of the biggest barriers to the development of Queensland's rural mining industry is cheap, reliable energy, said resources minister Scott Stewart .
"This will actually unlock the potential for new mines to come on, to get things moving because our critical minerals that lie in that North West Minerals Province are absolutely what we need to develop our renewable energy plan," Mr Scott said.As the country comes to terms with its role in climate change, Australia begins to harness its rich vanadium deposits for the first time.Construction was expected to begin in 2024 with CopperString 2.