Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) has reached financial close on the Jinbi Solar Project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region and signed a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement with Rio Tinto.
The milestone allows construction to begin on the 75 MWac solar project, with notices to proceed issued to DT Infrastructure (Gamuda) as EPC contractor and Rapid Camps as construction accommodation provider. Full commercial operations are expected in mid-2028, marking the start of the PPA supply period.
Jinbi Solar Project – Project Background
The Jinbi Solar Project is Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation’s first solar development and is located on a greenfield site within Exclusive Native Title land in the Yindjibarndi Native Title Determination Area in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
Stage 1 comprises an initial 75 MWac solar photovoltaic facility, with potential expansion to 150 MWac and an option to integrate Battery Energy Storage Systems, subject to regulatory approvals and future development decisions. The project is intended to connect into Rio Tinto’s existing transmission infrastructure, enabling integration with established industrial energy systems in the Pilbara.
YEC was formed in 2023 as a partnership between Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation and ACEN Corporation. The broader YEC platform is targeting up to 3 GW of renewable energy capacity across approximately 13,000 square kilometres of Yindjibarndi Ngurra, supporting decarbonisation, electrification and new industrial development in the Pilbara.
The project has already received key approvals, including environmental approval in early 2024, development application approval from the Shire of Ashburton, and Lead Agency Status in 2024. The Jinbi project page lists construction across 2026-2028, with operations expected in 2028.
Financial Close, PPA and Notice to Proceed
Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation said financial close confirms that the funding, contractual arrangements, government approvals and consents required to proceed to construction have been satisfied. Jinbi is the first YEC project to reach financial close.
A central part of the commercial structure is the Power Purchase Agreement with Rio Tinto. Under the agreement, YEC will supply 100% of the electricity generated by Jinbi to Rio Tinto for use in its Iron Ore Pilbara operations.
Following financial close, YEC issued notices to proceed to DT Infrastructure and Rapid Camps. Early site works are already underway, with Yurra, a Yindjibarndi Nation enterprise and YEC’s preferred civil works partner, carrying out site preparation and mobilisation activities.
DT Infrastructure EPC Scope and Delivery Timing
DT Infrastructure, a wholly owned Australian subsidiary of Gamuda, has been appointed to deliver the Jinbi Solar Farm. Gamuda said the project is located approximately 56 km south of Karratha and will consist of around 160,000 solar panels.
The contract value has not been disclosed in the official releases reviewed. Gamuda said mobilisation is scheduled to begin in Q2 2026, with project completion expected in early 2028.
The EPC contract structure is relevant because Jinbi is now moving from development into construction execution. For solar projects serving industrial loads, the EPC interface typically becomes critical around design finalisation, procurement, site access, electrical integration, commissioning and coordination with the offtaker’s existing power infrastructure.
Pilbara Renewable Energy and Mining Decarbonisation Outlook
The Jinbi milestone reinforces a broader shift in the Pilbara, where renewable energy projects are increasingly being structured around industrial offtake, mine decarbonisation and grid integration rather than merchant generation alone. The combination of financial close, a long-term PPA, and formal notices to proceed gives the project a clear pathway into construction.
For Construction Front readers, Jinbi sits alongside other Australian energy and grid projects where procurement and finance structures are moving projects from development into delivery. Recent examples include TasNetworks reaching financial close for the North West Transmission Developments, GenusPlus awarded the EPC contract for Koolunga BESS, and GenusPlus delivering the 100MW/200MWh Wagerup BESS for Alinta Energy.
The project is also notable because it combines industrial energy supply with Traditional Owner-led project development. That model may become more important as mining, transmission and renewable energy projects move through approvals on land with complex cultural, environmental and community interfaces.
Related Articles and News
- TasNetworks Reaches Financial Close for A$1.3 Billion North West Transmission Developments in Australia
- GenusPlus awarded EPC contract for Koolunga BESS in South Australia
- GenusPlus to Deliver 100MW/200MWh Wagerup BESS for Alinta Energy in Western Australia
- Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): What They Are and Their Relevance to the Construction Sector
- What is a Notice to Proceed (NTP) in Construction Contracts?
Source: Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation
Supporting Sources: Rio Tinto, YEC Jinbi project page, Gamuda
