Rio Tinto and YEC Sign Solar Power Agreement
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 11 2026
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Financial Close Achieved: Yindjibarndi Energy Corp. (YEC) has reached financial close for the Jinbi Solar Project and signed a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement with Rio Tinto, marking a significant milestone that enables construction to commence, which is crucial for Rio Tinto's renewable energy strategy.
- Electricity Supply Agreement: Under the agreement, YEC will supply all electricity generated from Stage 1 to support Rio Tinto's Pilbara iron ore operations and decarbonization goals, which is expected to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their operations.
- Project Scale and Expansion: The first stage of the Jinbi project includes a 75 MWac solar facility, with potential expansion to 150 MWac and the future addition of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), enhancing Rio Tinto's competitive edge in the renewable energy sector.
- Construction Timeline: Early works are already underway, led by Yurra, with full commercial operations expected to commence in mid-2028, providing critical support for Rio Tinto's long-term sustainability strategy.
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Analyst Views on RIO
Wall Street analysts forecast RIO stock price to fall
6 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 106.470
Low
68.00
Averages
83.70
High
129.50
Current: 106.470
Low
68.00
Averages
83.70
High
129.50
About RIO
Rio Tinto plc is a United Kingdom-based mining and materials company. It operates in over 35 countries, and its portfolio includes iron ore, copper, aluminum and a range of other minerals and materials. Its segments include Iron Ore, Aluminum, Copper, and Minerals. The Iron Ore segment includes iron ore mining and salt and gypsum production in Western Australia. Its iron ore operations in Pilbara comprise an integrated network of over 18 iron ore mines and four independent port terminals. The Aluminum segment includes bauxite mining, alumina refining, and aluminum smelting and recycling. The Copper segment includes mining and refining of copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, other by-products and licensing of extraction technologies. The Minerals segment includes mining and processing of borates, diamonds, iron concentrate and pellets from the Iron Ore Company of Canada, lithium and titanium dioxide feedstock.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Electricity Supply Agreement: Under the agreement, YEC will supply all electricity generated from Stage 1 to support Rio Tinto's Pilbara iron ore operations and decarbonization goals, which is expected to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their operations.
- Project Scale and Expansion: The first stage of the Jinbi project includes a 75 MWac solar facility, with potential expansion to 150 MWac and the future addition of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), enhancing Rio Tinto's competitive edge in the renewable energy sector.
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- Political Turmoil Impacting Markets: The recent volatility in UK assets, particularly the 10-year gilt yield nearing post-2008 highs, reflects market uncertainty stemming from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's questioned leadership and potential challenges from rival Andy Burnham.
- Investor Optimism on Large Caps: Despite the political upheaval, Citi analysts maintain a bullish outlook on the FTSE 100, citing its significant commodity and defensive exposure as a geopolitical hedge, indicating strong investor confidence in large-cap stocks.
- Opportunities in Small Caps: Jupiter Asset Management's Adrian Gosden highlights that while small and mid-cap stocks (SMIDs) face severe challenges, identifying financially sound companies could yield substantial returns, especially given the current pessimistic market sentiment.
- Attraction of SALO Businesses: Ben Needham from Ninety One notes that the market's harsh treatment of soft asset, low obsolescence SALO businesses has created attractive investment opportunities, particularly as many companies accelerate buybacks and cash returns, signaling strong value amidst the turmoil.
See More
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- Initial Production Milestones: In Q1 2026, Rio2 achieved production of 7,849 ounces of gold, 49,198 ounces of silver, and 6,403,188 pounds of copper, marking the initial production from the Fenix Gold Mine and cash flow contributions from the Condestable Copper Mine, demonstrating the company's success in new mine operations.
- Significant Financial Improvement: Compared to Q1 2025, mine operating income surged from $0 to $24.6 million, with adjusted net income of $12.1 million, reflecting successful integration and operational efficiency improvements, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Strong Liquidity Position: As of March 31, 2026, Rio2 reported cash and cash equivalents of $93.1 million, a substantial increase from $46.4 million at the end of 2025, indicating robust financial flexibility even after repaying $20 million in debt.
- Future Production Outlook: The company anticipates gold production at the Fenix Gold Mine to exceed 60,000 ounces in 2026, with plans to ramp up mining rates to 20,000 tonnes per day in Q2 2026 to recover from Q1 production shortfalls, showcasing confidence in future growth.
See More
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- Long-Term Power Agreement: Rio Tinto's 30-year power agreement with Yindjibarndi Energy will provide a stable electricity supply for its future operations, ensuring the company's strategic position in the renewable energy transition.
- Sustainability Commitment: This agreement not only supports Rio Tinto's sustainability goals in Australia but also promotes economic growth in local communities, enhancing collaboration with Indigenous peoples.
- Energy Cost Control: By securing a long-term power agreement, Rio Tinto can lock in electricity prices, thereby reducing future operational costs and improving overall financial stability and profitability.
- Market Competitive Advantage: This move will further solidify Rio Tinto's competitive edge in the global mining market, especially in the context of increasing emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.
See More
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- Financial Close Achieved: Yindjibarndi Energy Corp. (YEC) has reached financial close for the Jinbi Solar Project and signed a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement with Rio Tinto, marking a significant milestone that enables construction to commence, which is crucial for Rio Tinto's renewable energy strategy.
- Electricity Supply Agreement: Under the agreement, YEC will supply all electricity generated from Stage 1 to support Rio Tinto's Pilbara iron ore operations and decarbonization goals, which is expected to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their operations.
- Project Scale and Expansion: The first stage of the Jinbi project includes a 75 MWac solar facility, with potential expansion to 150 MWac and the future addition of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), enhancing Rio Tinto's competitive edge in the renewable energy sector.
- Construction Timeline: Early works are already underway, led by Yurra, with full commercial operations expected to commence in mid-2028, providing critical support for Rio Tinto's long-term sustainability strategy.
See More
Rio Tinto Evaluates Economic Potential of Los Azules Copper Project
- Economic Potential Assessment: Rio Tinto is evaluating the economic potential of McEwen Copper's Los Azules project, one of the world's ten largest undeveloped copper projects, considering increasing its 17.2% stake, which could enhance its strategic position in the copper market.
- Deepening Technical Collaboration: Rio Tinto holds its stake in Los Azules through its Nuton copper technology venture, with its technical team testing Nuton's proprietary leaching technology on-site, which not only aids in assessing the project's economic viability but may also improve copper production efficiency.
- Feasibility Study Results: The feasibility study released in October 2025 estimates an after-tax net present value of $2.9 billion for the Los Azules project, targeting first production by 2030, with an average production forecast of 204,800 metric tons per year of copper cathode over the first five years, indicating strong long-term profitability potential.
- Ongoing Strategic Dialogue: McEwen Copper's managing director Michael Meding stated that Rio Tinto is having fruitful discussions with Nuton, as the construction of Rio's copper pipeline provides a favorable opportunity for collaboration, further solidifying its competitive edge in the copper market.
See More
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- Market Rally: The S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached new highs fueled by optimistic expectations surrounding an Iran deal, indicating a significant rebound in investor confidence that could lead to increased capital inflows into the stock market.
- Tech Stocks Lead: Nvidia emerged as a market leader, driving a new wave of buying activity, reflecting strong investor confidence in its future growth potential, which may further enhance its market valuation.
- Arm Earnings Impact: Arm's earnings performance has become a focal point for the market, expected to positively influence related tech stocks and potentially trigger M&A activity within the industry, thereby invigorating market dynamics.
- Improved Investor Sentiment: As optimism about economic recovery grows, investors may reassess their allocations to risk assets, propelling the overall market upward and further solidifying the bullish trend in equities.
See More
