Pilbara Energy Transition (PET) Plan
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The Pilbara's Gross Regional Product in 2025
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Priority transmission corridors in the Pilbara
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Less transmission build needed through the PET Plan
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Concessional financing available for WA from the Rewiring the Nation fund
The Pilbara is one of the world’s premier mining jurisdictions - a global leader in operational sophistication and scale. Responsible for 98% of Australia’s iron ore output, it contributes almost a fifth of our State’s economic output every year – but also accounts for around 40% of our emissions.
That means that to decarbonise Western Australia, we must cut emissions in the Pilbara. That’s why the State Government has developed the Pilbara Energy Transition (PET) Plan - accelerating decarbonisation by delivering large-scale, common use transmission infrastructure to unlock the region’s strong wind and solar resources.
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PET - Priority Corridors
- Hamersley Range Corridor
- Great Sandy Desert Corridor
- Burrup Peninsula Corridor
- Chichester Range Corridor
- Proposed transmission lines
- Existing transmission lines
How was the Pilbara Energy Transition Plan developed?
The PET Plan was informed by the Pilbara Roundtable. The Roundtables brought together representatives from the State Government, including the Pilbara Energy Transition Team, Energy Policy WA and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, industry, and Traditional Owners from across the region to discuss the best path forward for decarbonising the Pilbara.
The PET Plan was developed to provide this path forward. It meets the needs of industry by delivering large-scale infrastructure, while taking a common use approach to avoid duplication and minimise impact on Country.
How does the Pilbara Energy Transition Plan work?
The PET Plan identifies Priority Projects within strategic transmission corridors that connect renewable resources to sites of industrial energy loads. These projects are then referred by the State Government for access to WA’s allocation of up to $3 billion in concessional financing under the Federal Government’s Rewiring the Nation program.
Four initial Priority Projects were identified via an Expression of Interest process in 2024, through which proponents in four transmission corridors were invited to apply for priority status.
Applications were assessed against special criteria set by the Government – decarbonisation, common use, positive outcomes for Traditional Owners and local Aboriginal people, and timely delivery.
Priority Projects
Burrup (Murujuga) Corridor
The Burrup (Murujuga) Corridor is designed to connect the Burrup Strategic Industrial Area (SIA) to the main electricity grid in the Pilbara, the North West Interconnected System (NWIS). By providing common use access to renewable resources, the corridor will enable the decarbonisation of major industrial facilities, including LNG and fertiliser plants, on the Burrup Peninsula. APA has been awarded Priority Project status for the Burrup (Murujuga) Corridor.
Hamersley Range Corridor
The Hamersley Range Corridor connects the Boodarie SIA and Port Hedland with the eastern edge of the Hamersley Range and will form an integral part of the future interconnected Pilbara network. Transmission infrastructure in the corridor will be able to supply iron ore mines, lithium mines, Port Hedland, and the Boodarie SIA, potentially connecting these locations to new wind energy generation. APA has been awarded Priority Project status for the Hamersley Range Corridor.
Great Sandy Desert Corridor
The Great Sandy Desert Corridor will link Port Hedland with the western end of the Great Sandy Desert, connecting the Boodarie SIA with high-quality renewable resources to the east. This enhanced energy supply will be important in helping to grow the emerging green iron industry in the Boodarie SIA. The Australian Renewable Energy Hub has been awarded Priority Project status for the Great Sandy Desert Corridor.
Chichester Range Corridor
The Chichester Range Corridor will connect the Maitland SIA with high-quality wind resources to its south, linking industry in the area to future renewable energy generation projects – potentially including the Baru Marnda renewable development on Yindjibarndi Country. Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation has been awarded Priority Project status for the Chichester Range Corridor.
Project Focus: Burrup (Murujuga) Corridor
The Burrup (Murujuga) Corridor represents a new approach to large-scale industrial infrastructure in the Pilbara. Moving away from a flawed model of isolated, company-specific, single-user builds, the State Government adopted a common use, shared infrastructure strategy on the Burrup.
The objective was simple: to prevent duplication and future-proof new infrastructure developments by doing things once, and doing them properly. By working with the Traditional Owner groups on Murujuga Country, as well as Horizon Power and key industry stakeholders Yara, Woodside and Perdaman, the State Government was able to design a long-term common use transmission solution.
Once operational, this transmission link will connect industry on the Burrup to renewable energy for the first time. Collaboration through the design of the project with Traditional Owners groups has helped ensure that cultural and environmental issues are properly considered and addressed.
The success of the Burrup Corridor has directly informed the PET Plan. The model of common use infrastructure is being scaled across three additional priority transmission corridors to decarbonise our State’s economic engine room - while preventing the unnecessary duplication of infrastructure and protecting Country.
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Working Together
Industry Liaison Committee
Industry participation is key to the PET Plan - making it an important enabler for regional decarbonisation, and to our State’s broader energy transition. The Industry Liaison Committee (ILC) has been set up to facilitate collaboration between industry and the State Government as we work to drive the energy transition in the Pilbara. It works to facilitate understanding and create solutions around the issues facing the resources and energy industries in the Pilbara.
Pilbara Energy Transition Aboriginal Working Group
The Pilbara Energy Transition Aboriginal Working Group (PETAWG) was created to understand the voices, perspectives and priorities of Traditional Owners and their communities as the PET Plan progresses, and WA moves toward a cleaner energy future. Participation in the PETAWG is open to all Prescribed Bodies Corporate in the areas covered by the existing NWIS and surrounding areas.
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Pilbara Roundtable
Bringing together Traditional Owners, industry and State Government stakeholders to share knowledge and perspectives and work collaboratively to implement the PET Plan.