Rio Tinto signs agreement with Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation

UGL to construct Stage 3 of Western Downs batteryThe CIMIC Group’s specialist engineering and services provider, UGL, has been selected by Neoen and Tesla to construct Stage 3 of the 305MV/1220MWh Western Downs battery in Queensland.This follows UGL’s successful delivery of Stage 1 and early completion of Stage 2 (270MW / 540MWh) in November.For Stage 3, UGL will install 312 Tesla Megapack 2XL units, along with high-voltage infrastructure, control and switchroom facilities, earthworks and footings. UGL will also provide testing and commissioning support to ensure seamless integration to the grid.Together, Stage 1 and Stage 2 provide 540MW/1080MWh of storage capacity. Once Stage 3 becomes operational, the battery will offer a combined total of 845MW/2.3GWh.ACS group and HOCHTIEF chief executive and CIMIC Group executive chairman Juan Santamaria comments on the major renewable energy storage project.“Stage 3 of the Western Downs Battery will add 305MW/1220MWh of storage capacity to Queensland’s energy network, building on the success of Stages 1 and 2 delivered by UGL,” he said.“This expansion strengthens grid reliability and supports the integration of renewable generation in one of Australia’s most important energy corridors.”UGL managing director Doug Moss comments on Stage 3.“Western Downs Battery Stage 3 will be our tenth battery installation project and our seventh in partnership with Neoen and Tesla,” he said.“As a leader in constructing and commissioning renewable energy assets and connecting them to the grid, we are helping to accelerate Australia’s energy transition.”Construction on Western Downs Battery Stage 3 will commence February 2026 with completion expected in the summer of 2027/28.

Liontown Limited (ASX: LTR) has signed an offtake agreement for 150,000wmtpa of spodumene concentrate with world-leading lithium manufacturer Canmax Technologies.The agreement assures the supply of spodumene concentrate over 2027 and 2028 from Liontown’s Kathleen Valley project in WA.

Onslow Iron transitions to gasOperations at the Port of Ashburton, a critical link in Mineral Resources’ (ASX: MIN) Onslow Iron supply chain, are now running entirely on natural gas.The complete transition from diesel to natural gas for port operations will reduce greenhouse gas emissions whilst streamlining operations through the removal of extensive diesel logistics and handling, according to the miner.The change will result in displacing about 60 million litres of diesel every year for power generation at the port.Site infrastructure includes a 14MW gas-fired power station which is now connected to the Wheatstone Ashburton West Gas Pipeline.MinRes power station operations manager Gary Stevens comments on the milestone.“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,” he said.“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 Port of Ashburton, located about 150km from Ken’s Bore mine site in West Pilbara, plays a critical role at Onslow as it is where iron ore is loaded onto purpose-built 20,000t transhippers for transfer to bulk carriers offshore.MinRes general operations and development manager Rowan Hill commented on the company’s commitment to investing into greener technologies.“We consider clean energy critical to the sustainability of our industry and the communities where we operate,” he 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.”