Name of the Project
Coastal Water desalination plant.
Location
Rio Tinto’s existing iron-ore port operations at Parker Point, in the Pilbara, in Western Australia.
Project Owner/s
Rio Tinto.
Project Description
Rio Tinto plans to build a seawater desalination plant with an initial nominal capacity of 4 Gℓ/y, with the potential to increase to 8 Gℓ/y in the future. The plant will be built on previously reclaimed land and will use reverse osmosis to filter salt and other impurities from ocean water.
Water from the plant is planned to be transferred to the Water Corporation-owned and -operated West Pilbara Water Supply Scheme, where it will be distributed to Rio Tinto’s coastal communities and operations.
The project includes the construction of a new supply pipeline to connect to the existing water network.
Potential Job Creation
At the peak of construction, the project is expected to support an estimated 300 jobs.
Capital Expenditure
$395-million.
Planned Start/End Date
The facility is expected to be operational and producing water in 2026.
Latest Developments
Engineering and procurement activities are well under way.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
Rio Tinto (Australia), tel +61 3 9283 3333 or email australia.communications@riotinto.com.