Fortescue launches new chapter in Australian green metal supply chain with Christmas Creek Project
Fortescue has started construction on its Green Metal Project in Western Australia's Pilbara region, a US$50 million initiative that aims to produce over 1,500 tonnes of green iron metal per annum using green hydrogen and renewable energy.
Fortescue has commenced works at its Green Metal Project in Western Australia's Pilbara region, a major step towards building a sustainable metal supply chain. The US$50 million project, located at the Green Energy Hub at Christmas Creek, aims to produce over 1,500 tonnes of green iron metal per annum, with first production expected in 2025.
The plant will utilise green hydrogen produced at Fortescue's gaseous and liquid hydrogen facility, the largest of its kind in Australia, in conjunction with an electric smelting furnace to produce high-purity green metal. This green metal can be used in almost any steel plant worldwide.
Fortescue Executive Chairman, Dr Andrew Forrest AO, and Chief Executive Officer, Dino Otranto, marked the start of civil works at the Christmas Creek site, highlighting the project's significance in rethinking the iron and steel value chain to produce a new, green industry in Australia.
"Iron and steel are the backbone of our infrastructure, but traditional production processes are among the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions," Dr Forrest said. "By rethinking the entire iron and steel value chain, we can produce an entirely new, green industry here in Australia."
The Green Energy Hub also hosts Fortescue's zero-emissions decarbonisation prototypes, including a hydrogen liquefaction facility, liquid hydrogen storage, and a liquid-hydrogen refuelling station. The facility is powered partly by solar energy and can produce around 530 kilograms of hydrogen gas per day.
Fortescue's commitment to decarbonisation is evident in its rapid progress, with the completion of its hydrogen facility, the largest gaseous and liquid hydrogen plant on any mine site in Australia. The facility will produce hydrogen and fuels made using renewable energy, which will play a crucial role in decarbonising mining.
WA Premier Roger Cook praised Fortescue's efforts, stating, "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."
Fortescue's Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak sites are already partly powered by 160,000 solar panels, and the company aims to achieve real zero terrestrial emissions across its Australian iron ore operations by 2030 without the use of voluntary carbon offsets.
