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The world runs on iron. It needs a green version.

The global steel industry produces roughly 3.7 billion tonnes of CO2 every year. Ironmaking accounts for the majority of that – more than any other industrial process.

The scale demands more than incremental change. Green iron can cut emissions, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and produce higher purity materials suited to the next generation of steelmaking.

As global markets shift toward low-carbon supply chains, green metals will become a competitive advantage – not just a climate solution.

What is green iron?

Traditional ironmaking relies on coal to remove oxygen from iron ore, releasing large volumes of CO₂ in the process.

Green iron aims to significantly reduce those emissions by using lower-emissions ironmaking technologies powered by renewable energy. The result is high-purity iron metal with significantly lower emissions.

Same product. A different pathway.

The CCGIP example

Innovation is our engine 

Heavy industry doesn’t decarbonise with good intentions. It decarbonises with engineering.

Electric smelting technology. Integrated renewable systems. Advanced materials science.

Through Fortescue Zero and our global R&D capability, we are developing solutions that are decarbonising heavy industry.

We’re developing the capability now so we’re ready to scale as markets mature.  

Explore Fortescue Zero

Our Green Metal Project

Unlocking a green steel industry.

At Christmas Creek, our Green Metal Project is advancing the technologies and processes needed to produce green iron metal at a commercial scale in the Pilbara.

This is where ambition becomes infrastructure. 

20241018 Green Metal Project Render

Let's build the future of green metals

We can build the technology. Now the world must build the frameworks. 

Green metals represent one of the biggest industrial transitions of our time.

The technology is advancing and the long-term opportunity is clear, but green metals won’t scale on engineering alone. Global alignment is essential. 

To accelerate green metal adoption, we need: 

  • Ore Decarbonisation

    A shared pathway to decarbonise low and mid-grade ores.

  • Aligned Standards

    Alignment of international standards and frameworks to support transparency.

  • Low-cost renewables

    Access to abundant, low-cost renewable energy to help green iron compete with traditional, higher-emissions alternatives.

  • Green Steel Demand

    Mandated green steel procurement to build early demand

  • Investment Certainty

    Reducing technology risk to unlock the investment needed to scale green metals.

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Beyond Fossil Fuels

Green metals are one way we’re proving heavy industry can move beyond fossil fuels - and part of a broader push to make Real Zero the global standard.

Learn more about Real Zero