Inside Fortescue’s AI ‘hive’ that could save the mining giant billions
The Andrew Forrest-chaired group has long had green ambitions. Many have not come off. This time, it is banking on automation to end a need for costly diesel.
Fortescue Metals chief executive Dino Otranto in the company’s Hive AI centre in Perth. Trevor Collens
More than $1 billion. That’s how much money Fortescue thinks it could save every year by ditching diesel at its sprawling Pilbara iron ore mining operations. Instead, it proposes to use solar energy. And the one thing making that a reality? A whole lot of artificial intelligence.
“We’ve lit that thing up like a Christmas tree,” Fortescue chief executive Dino Otranto says of a 600-kilometre web of transmission lines and renewable energy assets spread across Western Australia’s northern reaches – all tied to a nerve centre in Perth where AI manages power supply.
Tom RabePolitical correspondentTom Rabe is the Western Australia political correspondent, based in Perth. Connect with Tom on Twitter. Email Tom at tom.rabe@nine.com.au
Mark WembridgeResources reporterMark Wembridge covers resource companies for The Australian Financial Review, based in Perth. He formerly worked for the Financial Times in London and Hong Kong. Connect with Mark on Twitter. Email Mark at mark.wembridge@nine.com.au
