Fortescue plans to order newbuild ultra-large bulk carriers and to retrofit ships in its iron ore transport chain to run on ammonia fuel
Australian iron ore mining and transport giant Fortescue intends to run its owned bulk carriers on ammonia from 2030 and to convert existing ships in its fleet within five years.
Fortescue chairman Andrew Forrest pledged to retrofit Fortescue ships with green ammonia engines by 2030 and for any newbuild orders to include these engines when they are commercially available.
Mr Forrest sees the company’s mining business in Pilbara, Western Australia, achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, with renewable energy supplying zero-emissions vehicles and plant including 70 electric-powered diggers, 60 6-MW fast chargers, and electric trains and ship-loading equipment at the terminals.
Mr Forrest also wants the shipping fleet to go green. “All new ships will be ammonia capable, and we are not going to bother with dual fuel,” he said.
Fortescue owns around 80 bulk carriers and charters in a similar number from various owners to transport iron ore worldwide from its Australian mines.The company has invested US$6.2Bn to construct a solar farm to generate green power at scale for its zero-emissions ambitions.
Mr Forrest said it makes sense to transition to green, safe hydrogen and ammonia fuels, missing out LNG as a transitional step.
“Technology is fully underway for green energy and using green electricity, for going from fossil fuels straight to green fuels,” he said.“Green ammonia can be made anywhere. Solar panel and wind turbine costs are falling. The technology is becoming better and cheaper.”
