Fortescue Metals has not only set a new benchmark for its first-half iron ore shipments but is also pushing the boundaries of sustainable mining.
The company shipped 100.2 million tonnes (Mt) in the first half of the 2025-26 financial year (FY26), a three per cent increase on the prior corresponding period and the highest first-half total in Fortescue’s history. The December quarter alone contributed 50.5 Mt, including 2.2 Mt of Iron Bridge Concentrate.
But Fortescue’s latest milestone isn’t just about volume.
“We also reached an important milestone during the quarter with delivery of our first large-scale battery energy storage system at North Star Junction,” Fortescue chief executive officer Dino Otranto said.
“With a total capacity of 250MWh, this installation marks the first step in a planned 4-5GWh rollout of energy storage required to support the decarbonisation of our operations over the coming years.”
The renewable push extends across Fortescue’s operations, with 12 battery-powered excavators, two 14.5 MWh battery electric locomotives, and the Cloudbreak Solar Farm, now fitted with over 300,000 panels.
“We are fundamentally changing how we power our operations by combining firmed renewable energy, our high-voltage transmission infrastructure and growing electric fleet, led by Fortescue Zero technologies,” Otranto said.
Operational performance remains strong: Hematite C1 unit costs were $US19.10 per wet metric tonne (/dmt), while Iron Bridge Concentrate revenue hit $US121.68/dmt. Fortescue ended the half with $US4.7 billion in cash and net debt of $US1.0 billion, underpinned by $US759 million in capital expenditure during the quarter.
With record shipments and an aggressive renewable energy rollout, Fortescue is proving that mining production and sustainability can go hand in hand, positioning itself as a global leader in the next generation of green mining.
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