These are busy times for Fortescue Metals Group chief executive Dino Otranto. Asked in an exclusive interview with Mining Magazine whether battery power or hydrogen would become the heavy vehicle propulsion method of choice, the question prompted a laundry list of activities.
"Our focus is on green, zero-emission solutions," Otranto, who will also be speaking at the Future of Mining conference next month, said.
"We believe battery electric, green hydrogen and green ammonia will all be critical to our decarbonisation plan. Through our partnership with Liebherr and our UK-based business WAE Technologies, we are exploring options for both battery electric and hydrogen fuel-cell haul trucks."
This year, Fortescue will test both a battery-electric truck prototype and a hydrogen fuel-cell truck prototype. The plan: to have its first green haul truck operational at its sites in 2026.
More broadly, Otranto said he expected battery power to have a bigger part in powering remote mines, "especially when adding renewable energy into the equation".
Fortescue currently doesn't produce green iron or green steel but what he calls the company's "diversification journey" makes green iron ore an obvious target.
Otranto added that Fortescue is working with customers seeking to decarbonise. Specifically, this would involve shifting away from reliance on coal for heating and chemically purifying iron ore, with all the carbon dioxide output that process involves. Fortescue recently inked deals with China Baowu Steel Group, Mitsubishi subsidiary Primetals and Voestalpine. All these should help it in its drive to zero-emission production.
Finally, the company is also advancing in green power, hooking up solar and wind power to its private power grid for mines.
Otranto admitted Fortescue was setting itself "stretch targets".
"Recent weather events across the world have only underlined the fact that heavy emitters need to take action now," Otranto said. "There is no time to wait."
Dino Otranto is a keynote speaker at the Future of Mining conference in Perth, to be held over September 18 and 19 at the Pan Pacific. Delegates can register their attendance here.
