About The Ord Hydro Located on the lands of the Miriuwung Gajerrong (MG) people, The Ord Hydro Power Station is one of Australia's most significant regional renewable energy assets. Commissioned in 1997, it remains the largest generator of hydroelectricity in Western Australia, capable of producing over 212 GWh of emission-free energy each year. The electricity is delivered via its own 132 kV transmission network and is purchased by Horizon Power to service the nearby towns of Kununurra and Wyndham. It is estimated that the power generated is equivalent to the needs of approximately 40,000 households. The Ord enabled renewable energy to become the sole source of electricity for the region, replacing diesel and helping make the Kununurra grid one of the only 100% renewable electricity microgrids on mainland Australia. In a remote area where energy security is vital, The Ord provides a locally generated, stable supply of electricity, reducing dependence on volatile international fuel markets and long-haul transport logistics. Operating on Country The Ord sits on the lands of the Miriuwung Gajerrong (MG) people, whose deep connection to the region predates the construction of Lake Argyle by tens of thousands of years. Some of the The Ord’s transmission infrastructure also crosses the traditional lands of the Gelganyem Group, near the former Argyle Diamond Mine site. Pacific Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners of this Country and is working to strengthen long-term partnerships through a new Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) that will support local equity, participation, and shared outcomes. The Ord currently operates under a State Agreement with the Western Australian Government. Pacific Blue is working through a formal process to respectfully transition to more modern frameworks, reflecting a more contemporary and collaborative model for managing the asset following the closure of Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine. History A hydro power station for the Ord River was first proposed as far back as 1963, but technical and agricultural challenges delayed progress for decades. The right conditions finally came together in the early 1990s, when Pacific Hydro (now Pacific Blue) led the development of a privately funded hydroelectric facility at the base of the Ord River Dam. Construction began in 1993, and The Ord commenced generation in 1997. At the time, it was Australia’s largest private sector renewable energy project, and it received an Engineering Excellence Award in 1996. The project was pioneering and demonstrated the potential for clean energy generation in remote and regional areas well before renewables were widespread. The Ord was initially developed to supply baseload power to Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine and the local community of Kununurra and Wyndham through Horizon Power. Over two decades, it displaced tens of millions of litres of imported diesel annually and became a quiet achiever in Australia’s clean energy story. Argyle Diamond Mine For more than 20 years, The Ord supplied clean energy to Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine, one of the world’s largest diamond operations until its closure in 2020. Since then, Rio Tinto has commenced a multi-year rehabilitation program, dismantling infrastructure, restoring landforms, and returning the site to Country. Pacific Blue continues to work closely with Rio Tinto and Traditional Owner groups to ensure that the legacy infrastructure, particularly the transmission line and substation assets originally built to supply the mine, can be retained to support future clean energy projects in the region. These discussions are underpinned by mutual respect and a shared commitment to supporting economic resilience in the East Kimberley, long after mining has ceased. Investing in The Ord’s Future Today, The Ord operates below its maximum capacity due to reduced demand following the closure of the Argyle Diamond Mine. But its value to the region remains undiminished. Pacific Blue is actively working with local industry, Traditional Owners, and all levels of government to bring new carbon-free development online, ensuring The Ord continues to power the East Kimberley’s clean energy future. One of these partnerships includes supplying the energy to power the North Australian Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), backed Kimberley Cotton Gin, which could unlock up to 5 megawatts of new continuous demand. To support long-term reliability, Pacific Blue is investing more than $4.5 million through The Ord Modernisation Program. This refurbishment and upgrade initiative includes rewinding the station’s generators and refurbishing the turbines, ensuring that The Ord can continue delivering clean, stable electricity for decades to come. The Ord has also been identified as a supporting asset in the proposed Aboriginal Clean Energy (ACE) Project, which aims to become Australia’s first large-scale, Traditional Owner–led green hydrogen and ammonia production facility. Pacific Blue is proud to play a role in enabling this bold vision for the East Kimberley. Photography courtesy of Pollination Group and the Aboriginal Clean Energy Partnership. Contact Us We’re here for you via chat, email or phone, Monday to Friday. Ways to contact us