Rio Tinto QMM expands renewable energy at Madagascar Ilmenite Mine

Rio Tinto QMM (QIT Madagascar Minerals) has partnered with CrossBoundary Energy to decarbonize its ilmenite mine in Fort-Dauphin, Madagascar. The initiative includes the construction and operation of a combined solar and wind power plant, aligning with efforts to reduce emissions and transition to sustainable energy.

The first phase of the project, inaugurated in April 2024, features the Ehoala Solar Park with 14,640 solar panels generating 8 MW of power. The second phase will expand the solar farm by 6 MW and add a 19-turbine wind farm with a capacity of 16 MW, significantly increasing the renewable energy supply to the mine.

This renewable energy initiative is part of Rio Tinto QMM’s sustainability strategy, which prioritizes emissions reduction, waste and water management, and environmental restoration. QMM is a joint venture between Rio Tinto (80%) and the government of Madagascar (20%), producing ilmenite as well as zircon, used in ceramics and electronics, and monazite, a rare earth mineral critical for renewable technologies like wind turbines and electric vehicles.

Madagascar’s energy supply remains heavily dependent on biofuels and wastes, which accounted for 85% of the total energy mix in 2019, with the rest coming from oil products, coal, and hydropower. Projects like the Ehoala Solar Park are essential to diversifying the country’s energy sources and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

The project involves collaboration with Malagasy institutions and will deliver additional benefits to the local community, including job creation and skills development. By integrating renewable energy into its mining operations, Rio Tinto QMM is contributing to Madagascar’s energy transition while promoting sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the surrounding communities.