The 440-kilometre Tanami Natural Gas Pipeline, which will transport gas to Newmont Mining’s Granites gold mine, located approximately 540 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs in the Tanami Desert, has been completed. The pipeline is part of Newmont’s $346 million Tanami power project which is expected to provide the mine with a safe and reliable energy source that lowers power costs and carbon emissions by 20 per cent.
The power project involved the installation of two power stations, a 66 kilovolt interconnected power line and the approval to operate the natural gas pipeline.
Historically, mining operations at Tanami have had to rely on diesel to operate, which meant a pause in production if roads became impassable and diesel could not get through.
Newmont’s first expansion of Tanami in 2017 increased mine capacity by 80,000 ounces of gold a year. Newmont’s recent exploration success at Tanami may also extend its mine life beyond 2028, with the company considering a second expansion project. The miner is expected to make a full funding decision on the proposed expansion at Tanami later in the year.
