Australian mining company Fortescue is to set up a battery plant in Detroit, Michigan. It said it will be a major hub for its automotive and heavy industry batteries, fast chargers and electrolysers.
It is taking over an existing facility in Detroit and will prepare it for manufacturing and engineering work. Battery production details will be announced later this year, a company spokesperson said.
The state’s Michigan Strategic Fund approved grants and exemptions worth some $13 million, while the City of Detroit is offering $12 million of support.
Production is expected to commence in 2025 and the site has the potential to create up to 600 jobs as product lines ramp up to 2030, it said.
The site was originally constructed in 1920 as and has 410,000 square feet of space, over six floors on 14 acres.
In March 2022, Fortescue acquired the UK-based Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), which added critical technology and expertise in high-performance battery systems.
It said it has used the battery technology to deliver a battery electric haul truck prototype to a Fortescue mine site for further testing. It is developing a battery electric iron ore train for use in its own operations.
WAE Technologies was involved in the design, development and manufacture of advanced EV batteries. It said it was sole supplier to major electrified motor sport series, including Formula E, Extreme E, ETCR and LMDh.
Fortescue is also manufacturing electrolysers in Queensland, Australia.
Photo: iron ore train. Fortescue Metals Group
