- Rio Tinto QMM (QIT Madagascar Minerals) has commissioned the second phase of a clean energy project which includes the expansion of the solar farm by 6MW and the construction of a 19-turbine wind farm with a capacity of 16MW.
- The first phase, a 8MW solar park was commissioned in April 2024.
The Ehoala Solar and Wind Park is a partnership with CrossBoundary Energy. In 2021, Rio Tinto QMM, in support of its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint, signed a partnership with CrossBoundary Energy to build and operate a 30MW solar and wind power plant.
This transition to renewable energy is part of Rio Tinto QMM’s efforts to build a ‘sustainable mine’ by adopting responsible practices such as reducing emissions, managing waste and water responsibly, and restoring the local environment. The solar power plant is an important step towards realizing this vision, while providing tangible benefits such as job creation and skills development for the local community.
QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM), near Fort Dauphin in the Anosy region of south-eastern Madagascar, produces ilmenite – a major source of titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is predominantly used as a white pigment in products such as paints and paper.
QMM also produces zirsill, used to make ceramic tiles and electronics, and monazite, a rare earth mineral used in renewable energy technologies, such as high-power permanent magnets for wind turbines and electric vehicles.
QMM is a joint venture between Rio Tinto (80%) and the government of Madagascar (20%).
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
