Elizabeth Gaines, Global Ambassador, Fortescue Metals Group, said, “The concern is it’s not happening at exactly the pace we want to. We want to eliminate emissions by 2030 and here we are in 2023, so the clock is ticking. Attracting talent isn’t so much the issue, but getting the right skills at the time that we need it is a challenge.”

“For a large industrial company, we’re ahead of the curve – and the good thing is our workers are energised by what we’re doing, regardless by the fact that some of those trades will no longer be required.”

She said it is working with government and education institutions to transform its workforce into a more digital, data-driven operation. Its mining fleet is now fully autonomous. “We’re absolutely committed to the transition – it’s the right thing, and smart thing to do.”

Fiona Hick, most recently Executive Vice President Australian Operations of Woodside Energy, will join Fortescue as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fortescue Metals in February. She will report to the Fortescue Board, along with the CEO of the green division of Fortescue Mining Group, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), Mark Hutchinson.

Attending the Davos panel on ‘The Jobs and Skills of a Green Transition‘, Paddy Padmanathan, Vice-Chairman and CEO, ACWA POWER, said, “The skills issue is being grossly underestimated. We need to step back and think about the enormous capacity and ramp up that is needed for components, that need to go into the renewable energy systems, and the inputs that go into those components. Coal mining is finished but we need to ramp up zinc mining at a phenomenal rate. There is increased automation, but also a huge amount of people that are required.”

Last month Fortescue and ATCO Australia opened Western Australia’s first green hydrogen refuelling station at ATCO’s Clean Energy Innovation Hub in the Perth metropolitan area.

The H2 Refueller uses green hydrogen produced onsite at ATCO’s facility in Jandakot from renewable electricity through electrolysis. It will enable Fortescue, ATCO and third parties such as the WA Police to support their fleets of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, with the capability to refuel a Toyota Mirai with green hydrogen in less than five minutes and supporting up to 500 kilometres of emissions-free travel.

The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and FFI recently signed a Framework Agreement, to work together to study and develop potential green hydrogen and renewable energy projects in Azerbaijan. Aimed at further strengthening the close relationship between Azerbaijan and Fortescue, the Agreement will explore up to 12GW of potential projects from renewable energy sources and green hydrogen production in Azerbaijan.