Pilbara mine hydrogen plant commissioned

Fortescue has switched on a $34 million hydrogen refueling hub at the company’s Christmas Creek mine in the Pilbara.

Enabled by a 60-megawatt solar farm, the plant can produce 195 tonnes of renewable hydrogen a year to fuel hydrogen vehicles and equipment, which are increasingly becoming a feature of the mine.

Hydrogen-powered coaches and an excavator are already on site, and Fortescue last Friday welcomed its hydrogen-powered haul truck, Europa, to the fleet.

The plant was built by New Zealand-based Fabrum, which Fortescue last year invested in via a capital raising that attracted $21 million.

“This project also represents our entry into the mining and minerals industry to add to our work in heavy transport, aviation and other industries,” Fabrum chief executive Ojas Mahapatra said.

“It’s an exciting time for Fabrum as we continue to grow rapidly to meet increasing global demand for hydrogen production systems and other technologies.”

Fortescue Metals chief executive Dino Otranto said the plant would produce gaseous and liquid hydrogen for the company’s mining equipment and coaches.

The state government invested $2 million in the hydrogen plant.

The plant is part of Fortescue’s ambition to produce green iron for the Chinese market, with Christmas Creek’s operations to act as a test case to commercialise the product.