With interest in green iron striking hot with global markets, Fortescue is investing in Australia’s first move.
Fortescue will develop the technologies and processes to produce green iron; producing the green inputs for the process (decarbonised iron ore, green hydrogen and renewable energy); and building a plant to demonstrate that green iron is a reality.
The Christmas Creek Green Metal Project will use renewable energy and green hydrogen reduction technology together with an electric smelting furnace to produce high purity green iron which will be suitable for use in almost any steel plant globally.
The Christmas Creek Green Metal Project is expected to produce more than 1,500 tonnes per annum of green iron metal, utilising green hydrogen produced at the facility at Christmas Creek at our Chichester Hub in the Pilbara region of West Australia.
Locating the pilot facility at Christmas Creek allows Fortescue to demonstrate a ‘green pit to product’ supply chain, with the Company’s green mining fleet able to be paired with green ironmaking. The ironmaking technology for the Project will support Fortescue’s magnetite and haematite ores.
Subject to approvals, construction is expected to begin during CY24, with the first green iron targeted to be delivered before the end of CY25.
The Fortescue Board has endorsed an investment of up to US$50 million.