Inexperienced Mining, Inexperienced Iron, Inexperienced Transport, and Group Help — the Andrew Forest Report

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Final Up to date on: twelfth April 2025, 12:29 am

Andrew Forrest has scoffed at “web zero” and challenged the mining trade and maritime transport to go for “actual zero.” To this finish, he has bought battery electrical mining gear — we wrote about it right here. Now, the massive information is that he’s increasing his renewable vitality assets to energy that gear. By the tip 2030 (5 years away) Fortescue goals to have 100% of its electrical energy demand met by renewables — “actual zero.” Two to a few GWh of vitality era might be wanted to do that — consisting of wind, photo voltaic, and battery storage. Fortescue’s Pilbara mining operations use thousands and thousands of litres of diesel per yr.

Fortescue Metals’ newest transfer is to suggest a 644 MW solar energy plant at Turner River to reinforce its current renewable vitality ecosystem within the Pilbara, West Australia. The ecosystem will encompass photo voltaic panels, wind generators, and batteries all linked by a 750 km transmission community, the Pilbara Power Join (PEC) transmission system. This can support Fortescue’s ambition to run its iron ore operations on “actual zero” emissions. The Environmental Safety Company is but to approve the undertaking.

The Western Australian state authorities is encouraging the decarbonisation of mining within the Pilbara and desires to rework the world “right into a renewable powerhouse and future-proof our financial system, communities, and setting.” It’s supporting Fortescue in its endeavours.

The Pilbara is acknowledged as a significant world hub for mineral and vitality assets. Within the course of, it produces 40% of the state’s emissions, and at present makes use of solely 2% renewable vitality. By contributing almost 20% of Western Australia’s complete financial output, it drives the state’s financial system. “Moreover, the Pilbara is famend for its environmental and cultural significance, boasting one of many largest and most various collections of rock artwork worldwide.” The federal government believes that by lowering emissions, it’ll future proof the Western Australia (WA) mining trade. As such, its insurance policies will dovetail with these of Fortescue Metals. You’ll be able to learn extra about WA’s plans right here. A useful map is included.

The primary stage of the PEC was accomplished final yr — a 100 MW photo voltaic farm at North Star, 145 km south of Port Headland. The farm consists of 196,188 photo voltaic panels which tilt to comply with the solar for max era. Development on the subsequent undertaking — the Cloudbreak Photo voltaic Farm — was attributable to begin final month. The North Star and Turner River photo voltaic farms will assist to decarbonise the Iron Bridge magnetite mine 25 km away. Fortescue’s photo voltaic farms are anticipated to have a lifespan of at the least 25 years.

Twiggy Forest nonetheless hasn’t given up on inexperienced hydrogen to provide inexperienced iron. Just some months in the past, he took maintain of the shovel once more for a groundbreaking ceremony on the Christmas Creek Inexperienced Power Hub. With manufacturing to start this yr, the undertaking is anticipated to provide 1,500 tonnes every year of inexperienced iron metallic. Inexperienced hydrogen might be equipped by Fortescue’s gaseous and liquid hydrogen facility. Excessive-purity inexperienced metallic might be produced in an electrical smelting furnace. The Inexperienced Power Hub can be dwelling to Fortescue’s battery electrical haul truck and a three-megawatt quick charger prototype.

On the ceremony, Dr Forest mentioned: “Right this moment is a celebration of innovation, collaboration and stretch targets, and marks a pivotal second in Fortescue’s journey to construct a inexperienced metallic provide chain.Iron and metal are the spine of our infrastructure, nevertheless conventional iron and metal manufacturing processes are among the many largest sources of greenhouse gasoline emissions. By rethinking your entire iron and metal worth chain we will produce a wholly new, inexperienced trade right here in Australia.

“Right this moment’s milestone is the end result of bringing collectively inexperienced sustainable mining, large-scale renewable energy and inexperienced hydrogen to provide inexperienced metallic. Proper now, now we have a as soon as in a era alternative to construct a inexperienced provide chain, and Fortescue is losing no time to grab it.”

Fortescue’s inexperienced hydrogen plant produces 530 kg of hydrogen per day. It’s powered partly by photo voltaic in the course of the day. The hydrogen is at present used to refuel a fleet of 10 gasoline cell powered coaches. The hydrogen refuelling station was supported by a AU$2 million grant from the WA authorities.

The Western Australian authorities sees hydrogen as an necessary a part of the vitality combine at distant mine websites.

In breaking information, the 75 m Fortescue Inexperienced Pioneer, powered by ammonia, has arrived in London from Singapore, giving a nudge to worldwide transport at a key time — it’s time to transition to greener fuels. The arrival was timed to coincide with the King’s Sustainable Markets Initiative fifth Anniversary.

“Main CEOs and VIP company attending the Terra Carta Roundtable & Exhibition joined Fortescue Government Chairman and Founder Andrew Forrest for a tour of the vessel.” The vessel demonstrated using ammonia in its transformed engines. The UN Worldwide Maritime Organisation’s Security Committee approval in December 2024 of interim pointers for using ammonia gasoline onboard vessels marked an necessary step in the direction of ammonia turning into a viable gasoline for transport.

The UN Worldwide Maritime Organisation is contemplating a world transport carbon levy.

Cease the presses! As I wrote that final line, information simply in from al Jazeera: “A majority of nations on the IMO voted on Friday to approve a scheme that from 2028 will cost ships a penalty of $380 per metric tonne on each further tonne of CO2-equivalent they emit above a hard and fast emissions threshold, plus a penalty of $100 a tonne on emissions above a stricter emissions restrict.”

This can be a step on the trail to transport’s full decarbonisation by 2050. In fact, Trump will not be pleased. Dr Forest is advocating for the bypassing of transitional fuels akin to LNG and biofuels. Inexperienced ammonia is seen by many because the long-term resolution. The Fortescue Inexperienced Pioneer is on a world tour to make that time. “This won’t solely ship a greater future for the planet however speed up a discount in transport prices by way of the widespread adoption and scaling of renewable vitality,” Dr Forest says.

Within the meantime, Fortescue continues to construct neighborhood capital at dwelling, lately launching the Hedland and Newman Secure Areas applications. This initiative is designed to offer important help and security for at-risk youngsters and younger folks. “The Secure Areas Program is a collaborative initiative led by the Pilbara Growth Fee in partnership with Division of Communities and codesigned with domestically based mostly ACCOs Julyardi Aboriginal Company in Hedland and Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa Aboriginal Company in Newman to help susceptible and at-risk youngsters and younger folks.”

This important program might be funded over the subsequent 5 years in partnership with BHP to the tune of AU$22 million. This system will present a brief secure house and transport dwelling for unsupervised and susceptible youngsters discovered on the streets at evening.

“The Pilbara Secure Areas Program is about extra than simply offering a secure place; it’s about creating actual alternatives for younger folks to construct a brighter future. Fortescue is dedicated to supporting initiatives that drive significant change and assist create safer, stronger communities,” Warren Fish, Director Approvals, Communities and Surroundings, mentioned. This program will facilitate culturally responsive companies akin to: life abilities improvement, training, and employment pathways to create long-term constructive change.

It seems like Fortescue is progressing on all fronts to protect the Earth and be socially accountable. I hope extra billionaire CEOs comply with his instance on the trail to actual zero.

The way forward for mining and transport is brilliant, electrical, and inexperienced.