Fortescue launches expanded WA operations centre

The Fortescue Hive integrates the iron ore miner’s planning, operations and mine control teams with the port, rail, shipping and marketing teams, allowing 330 team members to work collaboratively 24/7.

Featuring 162 workstations and 996 computer monitors connected by 64 kilometres of underfloor cables, the Hive allows Fortescue’s team to work more closely together than ever to deliver improved safety, reliability, efficiency and commercial outcomes.

Fortescue chief executive officer Elizabeth Gaines said Fortescue Hive would seamlessly link its exploration, mining and marketing expertise to deliver value to its customers, shareholders ad communities.

“The Fortescue Hive will underpin our future use of technology, including artificial intelligence and robotics and will expand to include the generation and integrated distribution network for the Pilbara energy connect, our hybrid solar-gas power solution,” Gaines said.

“Fortescue has developed the world’s most advanced vertically integrated bulk operations infrastructure (and) we are very proud to open our enhanced IOC which enables us to operate our globally significant mines from the centre of Perth.”

Fortescue has led the way in remote operations for Western Australian mining operations since opening its train control centre in Perth in 2009, according to Forrest.

“Fortescue has long been a technology leader in the industry,” he said. “(It) was the first mining operation in Western Australia to control a railway from a remote location when we unveiled our train control centre in Perth in 2009.

“Since then, Fortescue has continued to lead the pack and the Fortescue Hive, our reimagined IOC sits at the heart of our integrated supply chain to deliver critical ores to develop the great cities of our region and beyond.”

The Hive was launched by Fortescue founder and chairman Andrew Forrest, Gaines, Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Energy and Industrial Relations Bill Johnston, Shadow Minister for Western Australian Resources Matt Keogh, Deputy Leader; Shadow Minister for Mines and Petroleum Bill Marmion, Federal Member for Perth Patrick Gorman and members of the Fortescue board and leadership team.