Chinese Premier Li Qiang has visited Fortescue’s green technology and test facility in Perth, Western Australia, marking a significant moment in the company’s 20-year business relationship with China.
According to Fortescue, the Premier’s visit to the company’s Hazelmere Prototype Facility showcased the company’s progress in decarbonisation and its advanced green technologies.
Fortescue Executive Chairman Andrew Forrest, along with CEO Dino Otranto, welcomed the Chinese delegation.
Forrest said the strength of the Fortescue-China relationship, built through its traditional iron ore business over the past two decades, will provide the critical foundations for the next chapter focused on both countries’ green transformation.
“A fully integrated green iron metal supply chain between Australia and China is the key to China maintaining its position as the dominant global producer of steel to the world,” Forrest said.
“Our proposed Australia Sino green iron metal supply chain will bring together mining powered by large-scale renewable power and green hydrogen to produce green iron metal.
“Our ambition is to provide 100 million tonnes of green iron metal to China each year, eliminating more than 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.”
Australian Government officials, including Resources Minister Madeleine King and Trade Minister Don Farrell, were also present.
During the tour, Premier Li was shown several zero-emission prototypes, including the Infinity Train locomotive, a hydrogen-powered haul truck named Europa, and an ammonia-powered ship engine.
The company said the world’s first pollution-free haul truck, Sonic, which was converted from diesel to hydrogen fuel cell power in less than 100 days, was also on display.
The company said the Chinese Premier’s visit emphasised potential collaboration between Australia and China in developing a green iron metal supply chain.
“Green iron metal will help defeat the challenging pollution and smog issues surrounding some of the world’s biggest cities. It will bring down global emissions dramatically and help prevent the world from seeing a worsening of the lethal humid heat belts that are already driving losses in human life, livestock and productivity in India, the USA, China, South America and Africa,” Forrest said.
“I have seen firsthand the impressive in-roads China is making towards renewable energy which in partnership, we can leverage to create great opportunities for green industry in both countries.
“Working with Chinese partners will help give Fortescue a competitive advantage to achieve our Real Zero decarbonisation targets and has the potential to deliver massive economic opportunities in both countries.”
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