Koalas 1. Twiggy 0Andrew Forrest’s Squadron Energy acquired 75 per cent of wind farm developer Windlab in June 2020, making Australia’s richest man the developer of a $1 billion wind project at Upper Burdekin in North Queensland.
In a major coup last August, Windlab signed an offtake agreement with Apple under which the global technology giant would purchase 500 of the 600 megawatts Upper Burdekin will generate annually for 15 years from 2026. This was a real contract worth around $450 million, not one of those bull**** memoranda Twiggy signs with dazed South American governors to sell them green hydrogen extracted from the steam of his own piss.
Apple has withdrawn from an offtake agreement for renewable energy with Andrew Forrest’s Windlab. AP
No lesser being than Tim Cook was moved to say, “We’re proud to celebrate Apple’s long history in Australia, and to deepen our shared commitment to protecting the planet and creating opportunity in people’s lives.”
For Forrest, this was the stuff PR dreams are made of. This was image adjacency – imagineering – that money cannot buy.
It suggested that Forrest’s green energy offering had survived the rigorous due diligence processes of the world’s largest company.
It implied that if Andrew Forrest’s wind was good enough for Apple, it must be really good.
It told us that Forrest had added the world’s most exalted boss of the world’s most exalted company to his set of McHappy Meal power figurines. Forrest alone had the rolled gold Rolodex, the direct line to Tim Cook (and probably even to Steve Jobs in heaven) to get a deal like this done.
Like the hereditary President of Gabon, was Cook moved by Twiggy’s doctorate in ecology? Or was Cook defeated by a fatigue negotiator, pursued relentlessly through every pavilion in Davos?
In January, Windlab’s own draft Public Environment Report contained some indigestible truths about the potential ecological effects of the Upper Burdekin project, including its “unavoidable significant residual impact to Sharman’s rockwallaby, koala, greater glider and red goshawk…”
The red goshawk is Australia’s rarest bird of prey. The koala was also listed as an endangered species in February 2022.
This, and the deep concern of a bevy of conservationists, was picked up by The Guardian last month.
The draft report also found that the 746 hectares of koala habitat being removed for the wind farm “is considered habitat critical to the survival of the species.”
Well, it turns out that was more than enough potential roadkill for Cupertino. A spokesman for the company told us on Tuesday that “Apple is no longer participating in the Upper Burdekin project. Apple will continue to explore renewable energy projects in Australia.”
It’s a grand irony, really. This is a project that would produce enough renewable energy to power 300,000 homes and remove 1.2 million tonnes of carbon from the National Electricity Market annually. In addition, the rockwallaby hides can be repurposed for RM Williams and the ground beaks of the red goshawks will make tremendous wellness powders for BWX.
Windlab may have lost its flagship customer and the associated brand halo but there should ultimately be no shortage of demand for its energy. The real question is whether Forrest’s companies are prepared to battle on through the reputational damage this project will wreak in its current form.
There is, of course, no such thing as a wind farm that will not eliminate birds and after two years of environmental studies and consultation, Windlab has sought to mitigate the impact on wildlife. The project design preserves 98 per cent of native vegetation.
Nevertheless, they propose to log 750 hectares of koala habitat. Koalas will die. What is Andrew Forrest, whose ecological bona fides melts the hearts of world leaders, going to do about that?
How dare you mention anything negative about green energy... Green energy and global warming is the new religion and only a heretic would repeat something negative...Twiggy Forrest can't seem to take a trick these days.
Seems Apple hs ruined another of his forays.
From AFR
Koalas 1. Twiggy 0
Mick
Guilty your Honour, well known heretic.How dare you mention anything negative about green energy... Green energy and global warming is the new religion and only a heretic would repeat something negative...
Quarterly production figures released today. A lot of good news on production, shipment and prices. Iron Bridge is almost onstream.
In response the market has smashed the SP to date. Not sure why ?
Strong third quarter performance contributes to record nine month shipments
Summary
• Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) of 1.8 at 31 March 2023.
• Iron ore shipments of 46.3 million tonnes (mt) in Q3 FY23 contributed to record shipments for the nine months to 31 March 2023 of 143.1mt.
• Average revenue of US$109/dry metric tonne (dmt), realising 87 per cent of the average Platts 62% CFR Index for the quarter.
• C1 cost of US$17.73/wet metric tonne (wmt), two per cent higher than H1 FY23.
• Net debt of US$2.1 billion at 31 March 2023, after payment of the interim dividend of US$1.5 billion and capital expenditure of US$681 million in the quarter.
• The first wet concentrate was produced from the Ore Processing Facility at the Iron Bridge Magnetite Project on 21 April 2023, ahead of being pumped to Port Hedland.
• Signed the Mining Convention for the Belinga Iron Ore Project in Gabon, with first mining planned in the second half of calendar 2023.
• Construction works completed at Fortescue Future Industries’ (FFI) electrolyser manufacturing facility in Gladstone.
• Continued progress on FFI’s priority projects in the USA, Australia, Brazil, Kenya and Norway.
• FFI secured renewable power with a Power Purchase Agreement with Statkraft, in Norway.
• Guidance for FY23 shipments, C1 cost and capital expenditure remains unchanged. Strong performance means the C1 cost is expected to be at the lower end of the range.
Fortescue Metals Chief Executive Officer, Fiona Hick, said “It’s been another strong quarter for our core iron ore business which is a credit to the team and demonstrates our continued focus on safety, production and cost. We achieved record shipments for the nine months to 31 March of 143.1 million tonnes.
“On the Iron Bridge Magnetite Project, I am pleased to report that the first wet concentrate was produced on Friday. The team is very focussed on the safe commissioning and production ramp up.
“This is a significant milestone for Fortescue as Iron Bridge represents our entry into the highest grade segment of the iron ore market, providing an enhanced product range while also increasing production and shipping capacity. It demonstrates our strong track record of successfully delivering complex projects safely.
“Also reinforcing our commitment to investing in growth is the progress underway at the Belinga Iron Ore Project in Gabon. The Mining Convention was signed during the quarter, establishing the legal, fiscal and regulatory regimes for the Project, including an early stage mine development.
“Fortescue continues to advance its decarbonisation plan as we work towards eliminating emissions from our iron ore operations by 2030. Together with our strong balance sheet and focus on investing in growth, we are well placed to advance our transition to a global green metals and energy company and ensure all stakeholders continue to benefit from Fortescue’s success.”
March Quarterly Production Report (PDF 319.9 KB)
I think Friday and today’s market drop was mostly to do with the iron ore price weakening, BHP has dropped heavily too, nothing much to worry about for the long term holder in my opinion. As you pointed out there is lots of good stuff happening.Quarterly production figures released today. A lot of good news on production, shipment and prices. Iron Bridge is almost onstream.
In response the market has smashed the SP to date. Not sure why ?
Strong third quarter performance contributes to record nine month shipments
Summary
• Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) of 1.8 at 31 March 2023.
• Iron ore shipments of 46.3 million tonnes (mt) in Q3 FY23 contributed to record shipments for the nine months to 31 March 2023 of 143.1mt.
• Average revenue of US$109/dry metric tonne (dmt), realising 87 per cent of the average Platts 62% CFR Index for the quarter.
• C1 cost of US$17.73/wet metric tonne (wmt), two per cent higher than H1 FY23.
• Net debt of US$2.1 billion at 31 March 2023, after payment of the interim dividend of US$1.5 billion and capital expenditure of US$681 million in the quarter.
• The first wet concentrate was produced from the Ore Processing Facility at the Iron Bridge Magnetite Project on 21 April 2023, ahead of being pumped to Port Hedland.
• Signed the Mining Convention for the Belinga Iron Ore Project in Gabon, with first mining planned in the second half of calendar 2023.
• Construction works completed at Fortescue Future Industries’ (FFI) electrolyser manufacturing facility in Gladstone.
• Continued progress on FFI’s priority projects in the USA, Australia, Brazil, Kenya and Norway.
• FFI secured renewable power with a Power Purchase Agreement with Statkraft, in Norway.
• Guidance for FY23 shipments, C1 cost and capital expenditure remains unchanged. Strong performance means the C1 cost is expected to be at the lower end of the range.
Fortescue Metals Chief Executive Officer, Fiona Hick, said “It’s been another strong quarter for our core iron ore business which is a credit to the team and demonstrates our continued focus on safety, production and cost. We achieved record shipments for the nine months to 31 March of 143.1 million tonnes.
“On the Iron Bridge Magnetite Project, I am pleased to report that the first wet concentrate was produced on Friday. The team is very focussed on the safe commissioning and production ramp up.
“This is a significant milestone for Fortescue as Iron Bridge represents our entry into the highest grade segment of the iron ore market, providing an enhanced product range while also increasing production and shipping capacity. It demonstrates our strong track record of successfully delivering complex projects safely.
“Also reinforcing our commitment to investing in growth is the progress underway at the Belinga Iron Ore Project in Gabon. The Mining Convention was signed during the quarter, establishing the legal, fiscal and regulatory regimes for the Project, including an early stage mine development.
“Fortescue continues to advance its decarbonisation plan as we work towards eliminating emissions from our iron ore operations by 2030. Together with our strong balance sheet and focus on investing in growth, we are well placed to advance our transition to a global green metals and energy company and ensure all stakeholders continue to benefit from Fortescue’s success.”
March Quarterly Production Report (PDF 319.9 KB)
Ballerina or toe stomper???I think Friday and today’s market drop was mostly to do with the iron ore price weakening, BHP has dropped heavily too, nothing much to worry about for the long term holder in my opinion. As you pointed out there is lots of good stuff happening.
I also have another theory, I got on a plane and flew to Canada on Friday, and as my mates will tell you FMG always drops heavily when ever I hop on a plane or cruise ship hahaha, it’s the universe’s way of keeping me on my toes ?
I don’t get it, how is FMG’s Iron Ore exports faltering? Production is pretty much the same as last year and last year was a record production year.I have just read this puff piece from the SMH on Twiggy's FMG and its poor performance in iron ore extraction and a multitude of possibilities for FFI to be decided by the end of this year.
I always go to the AFR for good journalism and the SMH hasn't failed this time on serving up a sh*t sandwich with heaps of mayo.
All systems go on hydrogen for Fortescue as iron ore output falters
Details of the miner’s further diversification into green hydrogen remain elusive, even as its $5.9 billion Iron Bridge magnetite project finally gets ready to deliver the goods.www.smh.com.au
To add to all the maybe's FMG have the begging bowl out for free Government money for FFI seeing as it's "green". As green as Kermit imo. Good luck with that in an inflationary year.
It will be interesting to follow the sp when everyone wakes up to the spark which will ignite the bonfire of dreams.
Hydrogen ... Haha Ha.
gg
I don’t get it, how is FMG’s Iron Ore exports faltering? Production is pretty much the same as last year and last year was a record production year.
Not to mention Iron Bridge is in the process of ramping up. I smell a journalist that doesn’t seem to know what he is talking about, looking for an alarmist headline.
Fortescue sticks to China growth story despite iron ore slump
The 5 per cent call in Fortescue’s share price on Monday reflects pressure on iron ore prices in the last month. But like BHP and Rio Tinto, it remains bullish on China’s recovery.
Spot iron ore fell 6.3 per cent to $US108.10 a tonne on Friday night in Asian trade, just days after China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said it would crack down on “unreasonable” price gains in the market and look to expand the use of domestic ore and improve the use of scrap steel.
Such comments from China are hardly new, of course. It seems that every few months the NDRC, which has been charged by Beijing with the task of reducing China’s exposure to iron ore prices, grumbles about paying too much, and then largely leaves the market to continue on its merry way.
Nevertheless, Friday’s action means iron ore has fallen almost 19 per cent since March 15, when the price set at $US132.73 a tonne. The consensus view that prices are heading back towards $US100 a tonne in the second half of calendar 2023 is starting to look on the mark.
It’s not just sabre-rattling by the NDRC that’s weighing on the market. Chinese economic data released last week was pretty good on the whole, but the recovery is uneven. While steel output in China rose in March compared with the first two months of the year, at between 6.9 per cent and 8.7 per cent, new property construction (which represents somewhere between 35 and 40 per cent of Chinese steel demand, says Commonwealth Bank commodities guru Vivek Dhar) plunged 29 per cent in the month versus the prior year.
Whether or not their iron ore production is “faltering” is not a matter of opinion but a matter of fact, and the fact is they are producing just as much this year as they did last year, and have been selling it at a higher price.Thanks VC, some headlines and content from the AFR of three or so days ago give quite a contrary view to yours.
I believe it is only natural to stick to a bullish story if you are an iron producer depending on the Wolf Diplomacy of China. Who knows when there may not be a turn in sentiment against Australia or an executive may be up for spying, or some other surprise from the cousins in China. All three, BHP, RIO and FMG are wise to stay positive in the public arena even though they may have negative sentiment privately.
So both the SMH(Ch9) and the AFR journos had access to the same facts but put a completely different spin on it. I just feel sorry for Sandy Stone and his rellies who might be tempted to put money in to FMG via their SMSF just on the spin from the SMH.
FMG may be a good investment, that is what forums like ASF argue about as we speak, but puff pieces in a local newspaper need to be pointed out as they do have an influence on buyers' perception particularly in the Financial Advisory area.
It is the content, not the headline, @Value Collector.
gg
FMG has been pretty straight forward, they have committed 10% of company earnings to FFI on an ongoing basis, and pay dividends of 50% - 80% of earnings, the balance used to finance mining investments.Oh the devil is in the detail isn't it, or is it?
Its relatively straightforward and has been for some time.
Q. What is the factor that could effect dividend payout ratio?
A. FCF
What are the capital commitments or forecasts for Fortescue Future Industries?
If not from FCF, then where?
Thanks @Value CollectorWhether or not their iron ore production is “faltering” is not a matter of opinion but a matter of fact, and the fact is they are producing just as much this year as they did last year, and have been selling it at a higher price.
With regards to what the future price will be that is anyone’s guess, and of course will fluctuate. If journalists are going to be alarmists every time the Iron Ore price drops that is up to them, but it’s hardly productive for long term investors to think like that.
Often articles are totally misleading, eg it is guaranteed that FMG’s dividend will be different each year and fluctuate a lot, but journos that write articles with headlines like “FMG’s dividend collapses” etc are just failing at their basic duty to educate the public, In favour of generating alarmist headlines.
Iron bridge is on stream. First run produced 68% iron concentrate. Twiggy is taking a victory lap.
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (Fortescue, ASX: FMG) has successfully made its first magnetite product, remarkably at first run grade of greater than 68% Fe.
Further to the successful production of wet concentrate at the Iron Bridge site, it has now been transported through the 135 kilometre specialist slurry pipeline where dewatering and materials handling occurs at Port Hedland to a high grade magnetite product, ready to be shipped and suitable for steel making.
It marks the end of over 20 million work hours on site and almost 20 years of planning. The time and capital (US$0.5 billion) in piloting the highly innovative Iron Bridge process was validated by the Ore Processing Facility achieving specification metal production in its first week of operations.
Iron Bridge will produce 22 million tonnes per annum of high grade magnetite concentrate.
In marking the milestone for the project, Fortescue Executive Chairman, Dr Andrew Forrest AO said, “Iron Bridge is a firm demonstration of our company’s Values, particularly NEGU - Never Ever Give Up determination. Iron Bridge temporarily followed the traditional way of delivering projects before recovering and switching back to our Values of empowerment driven leadership. What a great job the team have now done.
Iron Bridge First Production (PDF 173.8 KB)
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