Fortescue Metals Group hopes to make a final
investment decision in 2023 on a green hydrogen project in Australia that would
be its first to generate revenue, Chief Executive Elizabeth Gaines said on
Wednesday.
The Gibson Island project in the northeastern state of
Queensland is one of many tentative deals and studies unveiled by the world’s
fourth-largest producer of iron ore over the last 18 months as it strives to
become a major green energy supplier.
“From a revenue perspective the most advanced would be the
Gibson Island project … Hopefully a final investment decision (FID) in 2023,”
Gaines told the Macquarie Australia Conference in Sydney, when asked which of
its hydrogen projects would be the first to produce revenue.
First-phase feasibility studies were completed in December on
using electrolysis powered by renewable energy to produce 50,000 tonnes a year
of hydrogen to feed a reopening of the Gibson Island ammonia plant owned by
Australia’s top fertiliser producer Incitec Pivot.
Incitec Pivot last year announced it would shut the plant at the
end of 2022 because the local supply of natural gas to make its ammonia
had become too costly. It is now considering using green hydrogen to make
ammonia.
Fortescue said in December that Fortescue Future
Industries and Incitec were set to enter talks on running a preliminary
engineering design study ahead of making a final investment decision.
Incitec declined to comment on Wednesday on the status of the
project as it is in a black-out period ahead of its half-year results on May
23.
Mining.com