New Zealand-based Fabrum and Australian miner Fortescue have commissioned a liquid hydrogen plant at the latter’s Christmas Creek mine site in Western Australia, Kallanish reports.

The plant, featuring a hydrogen liquefaction facility, liquid hydrogen storage and a liquid hydrogen refuelling station, can produce around 350 kilograms/day of liquid hydrogen. It has a storage capacity of 600 kg. 

In separate statements on Friday, the companies claim the liquid hydrogen plant is the “largest” such facility in Australia. The hydrogen produced will be used to power Fortescue’s prototype “zero-emissions” mining equipment, including its hydrogen-powered haul truck. 

The plant is part of Fortescue’s wider $50 million Green Metal Project in the Pilbara region, whose works have also started. Located at the Green Energy Hub at Christmas Creek, the project is expected to produce 1,500 tonnes/year of green metal, starting in 2025. The project will use hydrogen from Fortescue’s gaseous and liquid hydrogen facility, as well as an electric smelting furnace to produce high-purity green metal, suitable for use in “almost any” global steel plant, the company adds.

The hub also features a hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) that includes two 700-kilowatt electrolysers, designed to produce around 530 kg/day of hydrogen gas. Partly powered by solar, the station can refuel a fleet of 10 hydrogen fuel cell-powered coaches. The HRS was supported by an AUD 2 million ($1.3m) grant from the Western Australian government, Fortescue says.

“Today is a celebration of innovation, collaboration and stretch targets, and marks a pivotal moment in Fortescue’s journey to build a green metal supply chain,” says Fortescue’s executive chairman Andrew Forrest.

“Today’s milestone is the culmination of bringing together green sustainable mining, large-scale renewable power and green hydrogen to produce green metal,” he adds. “Right now, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a green supply chain, and Fortescue is wasting no time to seize it.”

Western Australia Premier Roger Cook adds: “Hydrogen has an important role to play in remote areas like mine sites, helping to create our state’s green iron supply chain, reduce our reliance on diesel and slash emissions on site.”

Last month, Fortescue said it would reduce its green hydrogen focus as part of a strategy to maximise value for shareholders, whilst announcing job cuts. The company is yet to unveil details of its revised hydrogen strategy.