Traditional owners at war with Fortescue sign big green energy deal
Traditional owners embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle with Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group have signed a deal to develop one of Australia’s biggest renewables projects in partnership with Philippines-listed ACEN.
The Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation and ACEN have joined forces on an ambitious plan to develop, own and operate large-scale renewable energy projects of up to 3 gigawatts in Western Australia’s iron ore-rich Pilbara. The Yindjibarndi have the strongest form of native rights, known as exclusive possession.
An iron ore train departs Port Hedland. ACEN International’s Patrice Clausse says the Pilbara region is home to some of the world’s largest industrial energy users, many of which want to take part in a transition to a carbon-neutral future. Krystle Wright
They expect to start work on stage one, which comes with a $1 billion price tag and is targeting 750 megawatts of combined wind, solar and battery storage, within the next few years.
The agreement has been framed to ensure Yindjibarndi approval of all proposed project sites, Yindjibarndi equity of 25 per cent to 50 per cent in all projects, preferred contracting for Yindjibarndi-owned businesses, and training and employment opportunities for Yindjibarndi people.
The Yindjibarndi land earmarked for the project sits close to Rio Tinto power lines and just far enough inland to be outside the severe cyclone zone in the Pilbara.
The deal between the Yindjibarndi and ACEN, which is owned by the Philippines-based Ayala Group, comes as a 16-year battle between the native titleholders and Fortescue comes to a head through a compensation claim in the Federal Court.
In 2020, Fortescue was left exposed to the compensation claim, which has been estimated
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