Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Simon Trott has dismissed claims by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest that the Pilbara is at risk of becoming a “wasteland”, insisting the company was readying itself for the transition to green steel.
With iron ore grades continuing to decline and China looking to reduce emissions, the Fortescue Metals Group chairman had told the Financial Review Mining Summit there was no guarantee the world’s biggest steel producer would continue to favour Western Australia’s iron ore.
But Trott played down concerns the state could lose its major customer to Brazil or Africa, and insisted the company was readying itself for the transition to green steel.
“Looking back at history, there have been numerous times in which people have claimed the Pilbara was going to fall off a cliff or was going to end,” he told the summit. “Each time the industry has adapted and responded, and I’ve got no doubt that’s going to continue.
“I have no doubt that iron ore mining in the Pilbara will be continuing long after I’m gone and even after my children are gone.”
Trott said the company was devoting a lot of time to research and development to ensure the Pilbara was well-positioned for green steel, bankrolling a $215 million green steel research facility south of Perth.
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