Argus Media Limited

11/18/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/18/2021 02:58

Australian state approves Fortescue's hydrogen plant

Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), the green energy arm of Australia's third-largest iron ore producer Fortescue Metals, has received approval from the Queensland state government to build a hydrogen electrolyser production plant at Gladstone in Queensland.

The plant will have production capacity to build 2,000 MW/yr of electrolysers when it comes on line in 2023.

FFI has the planning approval required to progress the A$114mn ($83mn) first stage of its electrolyser plant, also known as the Global Green Energy Manufacturing Centre, Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles said in a statement.

"It will be the first facility in Australia able to make the multi-gigawatt-scale electrolysers used worldwide in hydrogen production," Miles said.

The approval comes a month after FFI announced plans to build the plant in Gladstone.

"Receiving planning approval from the state government brings this project even closer to fruition, as we work towards commencing construction on the first stage in February 2022," FFI chief executive officer Julie Shuttleworth said in a statement.

FFI plans to extend the Gladstone facility into a manufacturing hub capable of producing wind turbines, long-range electrical cable, photovoltaic cells and associated infrastructure.

By Kevin Morrison