Work has commenced at Fortescue’s Green Metal Project at Christmas Creek, Western Australia, with the project expected to produce more than 1,500tpa of green metal once completed.
Located in the Pilbara region, first production for the US$50 million project is anticipated in 2025.
The plant will use green hydrogen produced at Fortescue’s gaseous and liquid hydrogen facility, the largest of its kind in Australia, and an electric smelting furnace to produce high-purity green metal. This will be suitable for use in almost any steel plant globally.
Fortescue’s recently commissioned green hydrogen plant can produce around 530kg of hydrogen gas per day, or around 195t annually. Powered partly by solar during the day, the plant comprises a gaseous hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) to refuel a fleet of ten fuel cell electric vehicle hydrogen-powered coaches. The gaseous HRS was supported by the Western Australian Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Fund through a $2 million grant.
The Green Energy Hub also contains a hydrogen liquefaction facility, liquid hydrogen storage, a liquid-hydrogen refuelling station, and Fortescue’s zero emissions decarbonisation prototypes.
Fortescue Executive Chairman, Dr Andrew Forrest AO, was joined by Fortescue Metals Chief Executive Officer, Dino Otranto, for a ceremony to mark the start of civil works at the Christmas Creek site.
“Today is a celebration of innovation, collaboration and stretch targets, and marks a pivotal moment in Fortescue’s journey to build a green metal supply chain,” Dr Forrest said.
“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. By rethinking the entire iron and steel value chain, we can produce an entirely new, green industry here in Australia.
“Today’s 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.”
Mr Otranto said, “Fortescue is moving at rapid speed to decarbonise, and the completion of our hydrogen facility, which is the largest gaseous and liquid hydrogen plant on any mine site in Australia, is a testament to our commitment to leading heavy industry in decarbonising.
“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.”
Western Australian Premier, Roger Cook, said, “Western Australia 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.
“Congratulations to Fortescue on their work to decarbonise their operations, which is showing the way for the resources industry right around the world,” Mr Cook said.
The liquid hydrogen plant will power Fortescue’s offboard power unit and its hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype, which recently arrived at Christmas Creek.
The Green Energy Hub also hosts Fortescue’s prototype battery-electric haul truck and a three-megawatt fast charger prototype.
Featured image: Christopher Wehling/shutterstock.com
