The first of seven gas turbines has been fired up at the power station at CITIC Pacific's Sino iron project in the Pilbara.
The station will power the magnetite iron ore project and generate electricity equivalent to the entire capacity currently operating in the Pilbara.
CITIC'S Malcolm Northy says the plant will also produce about 40 per cent less carbon emissions compared to a conventional open-cycle plant.
"We'd anticipate that pretty much once a month from here on in we'll start bringing a gas turbine online, so we'll bring the seven gas turbines online through the balance of this year," he said.
Once operational, the project will export more than 27 million tonnes of high grade iron ore concentrate and pellets annually.
