A major mineral producer will continue using fossil fuels instead of environmentally friendly alternatives.
Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) recently abandoned plans to construct up to 340 wind turbines, a solar farm and battery energy storage system near its Eliwana mine.
The Uaroo Renewable Energy Hub was touted to generate up to 5.4 gigawatts and would have required substations, tracks, roads, aerodrome, airstrip, electrical cables, water storage, wastewater facilities and other associated infrastructure.
However, the proponent withdrew its application from the State Environmental Protection Authority in October 2023.
“Uaroo was not part of the decarbonisation energy requirement, it was more for the ammonia export requirement,” FMG CEO Dino Otranto said according to Fairfax Media.
“As we are maturing our understanding of sun and wind intensity you will see things coming in and coming out of the portfolio.”
Diesel and other fossil fuels will continue to be used until the company completes decarbonisation projects worth a combined US$6.2 billion (A$9.5B).
Finally the penny has dropped on the cost and reality of grand plans by FMG to decarbonise.