Fortescue has begun works at its Green Metal project in the Pilbara region in Western Australia as part of its mission to build a green metal supply chain.
The $50 million project located at Christmas Creek is expected to produce more than 1500 tonnes of green metal per annum when it starts in 2025.
The plant will use green hydrogen produced at Fortescue’s gaseous and liquid hydrogen facility, together with an electric smelting furnace, to produce high-purity green metal.
Fortescue executive chair Andrew Forrest said this is a pivotal moment in the company’s journey.
“Iron and steel are the backbone of our infrastructure, however traditional iron and steel production processes are among the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions,” Forrest said.
“By rethinking the entire iron and steel value chain we can produce an entirely new, green industry here in Australia.”
Forrest said the milestone is the culmination of bringing together green sustainable mining, large-scale renewable power and green hydrogen to produce green metal.
“Right now, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a green supply chain, and Fortescue is wasting no time to seize it,” he said.
Fortescue’s recently commissioned green hydrogen plant can produce 530kg of hydrogen gas per day. It is partly powered by solar, and the plant comprises a gaseous hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) to refuel a fleet of 10 fuel cell hydrogen-powered coaches.
Fortescue’s green energy hub also contains a hydrogen liquefaction facility, liquid hydrogen storage and fuelling station, along with their zero emissions decarbonisation prototypes.
Fortescue chief executive officer Dino Otranto said the company is moving at rapid speed to complete its hydrogen facility.
“(This) is the largest gaseous and liquid hydrogen plant on any mine site in Australia,” Otranto said.
“Hydrogen and fuels made using renewable energy will have a role to play in decarbonising mining, whether it’s in buses, heavy mining equipment such as haul trucks and excavators, or producing green iron.
“This renewable hydrogen plant is versatile, enabling us to produce gaseous and liquid hydrogen to be used to power our mining equipment prototypes, while also providing the added benefit of refuelling our fleet of coaches at Christmas Creek.”
WA Premier Roger Cook said WA is on its way to becoming a global clean energy powerhouse, and a major producer, user and exporter of green iron.
“Hydrogen has an important role to play in remote areas like mine sites, helping to create our state’s green iron supply chain, reduce our reliance on diesel and slash emissions on site,” he said.
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