Christmas Creek Green Iron Pilot by Fortescue Metals Group: status and timeline

Christmas Creek Green Iron Pilot

A hydrogen-based iron production pilot using renewable electricity to produce molten iron without fossil fuels. Located in the Pilbara.

PilotStage 3 of 5

First hot metal achieved 2026; targeting 1,500 tonnes/year commercial production.

Updated 19 Aug 2026Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Commercial-scale green iron production at 1,500+ tpa

Green hydrogen facility commissioned2024Complete.
First hot metal produced using electric smelting furnaceAug 2026Complete.
Commercial-scale green iron production at 1,500+ tpaTarget Q4 2026Current milestone.
Ramp to full production and exportTarget 2027Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

Q4 2026Commercial-scale green iron production at 1,500+ tpa (next)
2027Ramp to full production and export
2027TISCO pilot produces first molten iron

Current obstacles

Hydrogen production costGreen hydrogen splitting requires large amounts of electricity; competitiveness depends on renewable power prices falling further.
Process optimizationPilot has achieved first metal, but commercial-scale optimization for cost and reliability is ongoing through commissioning phases.

Physics limits

Hydrogen energy densityHydrogen's energy content per unit volume is lower than methane, requiring larger storage and higher pressure equipment, which drives up capital cost.
Ore reduction kineticsHydrogen reduction is slower than carbon-based reduction, so furnace throughput is lower, requiring larger reactors for the same output.
Electricity availabilityIron smelting demands continuous high-power electricity; availability and cost of renewable power at gigawatt scale remain regional constraints.

How it works

3 parts

Hydrogen reduction

Green hydrogen splits ore

Hydrogen produced by splitting water with renewable electricity reacts with iron oxide ore, turning it into sponge iron (porous, reduced metal).

Electric smelting

Furnace melts sponge iron

An electric arc furnace melts the sponge iron into molten metal without burning fossil fuels, powered directly by renewable electricity.

Ore compatibility

Works with Fortescue's ores

The process handles both magnetite and haematite ore types found in the Pilbara, with different chemistry for each.

Spec sheet

Spec	Christmas Creek Green Iron Pilot
Design capacity (commercial plant)	1,500+ tonnes/year^R (reported)
Green hydrogen production (pilot)	~195 tonnes/year^R (reported)
Planned renewable capacity	1.4+ GW solar, up to 1 GW wind^R (reported)
Investment approved	~USD $50 million^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

2 updates

Wed 19 Aug

Major: Fortescue achieves first hot metal using electric smelting furnace with green hydrogenPressHardware

2024

Major: Fortescue commissions green hydrogen facility at Christmas Creek with 195 tonnes/year capacityPressManufacturing

About Fortescue Metals Group

The team behind Christmas Creek Green Iron Pilot

Fortescue Metals Group

Iron ore mining, green hydrogen, decarbonization

Fortescue is the world's fourth-largest iron ore producer, with operations in Australia's Pilbara region. Founded in 2003, it has pivoted toward green energy and is building hydrogen-based green iron production and renewable power plants.

First hot metal produced at Green Metal Project using green hydrogen and electric smelting.
$50M investment toward 1,500+ tpa green iron production at Christmas Creek.
Partnership with China's TISCO on hydrogen-based ironmaking pilot targeting 5,000 tpa.

fortescue.com (opens fortescue.com)Company profile →

Founded: 200323 yrs
Headquarters: Australia
Status: Public
Listed: FMGASX
Valuation: $46Bmarket capJun 2026
Staff: ~15,700Jan 2026
Works in: MaterialsGreen steelEnergy
Coverage: 1 program · 3 updateslatest 19 Aug 2026checked 10 Oct
Partners: Metso (opens metso.com)Taiyuan Iron and Steel Group (TISCO)China Baowu
People: Andrew Forrest (opens en.wikipedia.org)Executive Chairperson, FounderDino OtrantoCEO, Metals and OperationsAgustin PichotCEO Growth and Energy

Spec

Christmas Creek Green Iron Pilot

Design capacity (commercial plant)

1,500+ tonnes/year^R (reported)

Green hydrogen production (pilot)

~195 tonnes/year^R (reported)

Planned renewable capacity

1.4+ GW solar, up to 1 GW wind^R (reported)

Investment approved

~USD $50 million^R (reported)