Proposed desalination plant in the Pilbara WA to generate 300 jobs

Rio Tinto is proposing to build a new desalination plant in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, which will support future water supply to its coastal operations as well as the communities in the region. 

The US$395 million Dampier Seawater Desalination Plant is proposed to be constructed within the company’s existing iron ore port operations at Parker Point. The facility is estimated to have an initial nominal capacity of four gigalitres a year, with a potential to increase to eight gigalitres in a future expansion. 

This project will include the construction of a new supply pipeline that will connect to the existing water network. 

The project is still subject to Commonwealth and State Government approvals. Once all necessary approvals are in place, construction on the new desalination plant will commence – expected in 2024. 

“We know that water is a scarce resource, particularly in the Pilbara. We are pleased that this desalination plant will help to secure future supply for Rio Tinto supplied communities in the West Pilbara as well as our coastal operations,” Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott said. 

The company has been engaging with all associated Traditional Owners and Custodians in relation to the project. Rio Tinto thanks the Ngarluma people, on whose Traditional lands the new facility will be located, as well as the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation who represents the five Traditional Owner groups in the region. 

The proposed Dampier Seawater Desalination Plant will stand on previously reclaimed land. Ocean water is going to be processed at the facility using reverse osmosis to filter salt and other impurities. 

To minimise disruption to the local environment, the desalination plant will use existing infrastructure at Rio Tinto’s Parker Point operations and it is also going to be built near the existing Water Corporation network. 

At peak construction period, the project is anticipated to support about 300 jobs. 

Once operational, water from the desalination plant is going to be transferred to the West Pilbara Water Supply Scheme – owned and operated by Water Corporation – and distributed to Rio Tinto’s coastal operations and communities. 

Source: Rio Tinto; Australian Mining