Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation's Project Baru Marnda has been awarded Strategic Project Status under the Western Australian Government's Lead Agency Framework.
The designation, facilitated by the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification, was formally conferred by WA Premier and Minister for State and Industry Development, Roger Cook on Monday, acknowledging Baru Marnda as a project of strategic importance to the state's energy transition and economic diversification goals.
The Lead Agency Framework prioritises projects that deliver significant economic, regional, and social benefits, support government priorities including renewable energy and decarbonisation and require coordination across multiple agencies.
Strategic Project Status ensures these projects receive enhanced facilitation and streamlined regulatory processes, enabling timely development and delivery.
Project Baru Marnda, located in the northwest of Yindjibarndi Ngurra (Country), is a large scale renewable energy development comprising up to 1GW of wind and solar generation, with the option to include Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
The project will play a critical role in decarbonising Pilbara mining and industrial operations while creating new opportunities for regional development.
Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation chief executive Craig Ricato the recognition "underscores the significance of Baru Marnda to Western Australia's clean energy future and the Pilbara's transition to low-carbon industry".
"As one of Australia's largest Indigenous-led renewable energy initiatives, YEC is proud to lead projects that deliver real benefits for Traditional Owners and the State," he said.
The Strategic Project Status for Project Baru Marnda adds to a series of significant government designations previously awarded to YEC projects, highlighting its critical role in delivering large-scale renewable energy and decarbonisation initiatives for the Pilbara and the State, including: Priority Status for the Chichester Range Transmission Corridor as one of four strategic transmission corridors in the Pilbara; inclusion on the National Renewable Energy Priority List for both Project Baru Marnda and the Chichester Range Transmission Corridor, unlocking enhanced regulatory support at a federal level; and Lead Agency Project Advice and Support for Project Jinbi Together.
