Mineral Resources has reached a major milestone at its Onslow Iron project, with operations at the Port of Ashburton now running entirely on natural gas.
The port now has a 14-megawatt gas-fired power station connected to the Wheatstone Ashburton West Gas Pipeline, which allows the company to completely transition from diesel to natural gas for the port’s operations.
The Port of Ashburton is a critical link in Onslow Iron’s supply chain, where iron ore is loaded onto purpose-built transhippers for transfers to bulk carriers offshore.
The development is part of the company’s broader energy efficiency strategy for its operations. The company said the use of natural gas at the port can replace approximately 60 million litres of diesel every year for power generation at the Port of Ashburton.
Mineral Resources Power Station Operations Manager Gary Stevens said: “The introduction of a gas-fired power station at the port represents a major step towards delivering cleaner and more sustainable mining and export infrastructure.
“Bringing something of this scale together and operational is a huge piece of work and couldn’t be done without the team’s dedication, diligence and expertise.”
The adoption of gas-powered infrastructure also aligns with the company’s ongoing investment in greener technologies, which supports both operational efficiency and environmental responsibility.
MinRes General Manager Operations and Development Rowan Hill said the company is committed to sustainability and alternative energy solutions.
“We consider clean energy critical to the sustainability of our industry and the communities where we operate,” Hill said.
“We’re continually exploring ways to reduce emissions across our operations, and by connecting the port to the gas lateral, we’re reducing our diesel consumption and taking another positive step towards more cost-effective and cleaner operations.”
