The billionaire founder and flamboyant leader of a major mining group has implored Australia to produce its own power from renewable energy, in part to free the country from dependence on "serious fruitcakes" like Donald Trump.
Fortescue executive chairman Andrew Forrest told the company's annual general meeting on Wednesday that the cost of doing nothing was being dependent on the actions of fruitcakes on the other side of the world.
"I know I'm being really blunt here, ladies and gentlemen," Mr Forrest said.
But Mr Trump deserves the title of "serious fruitcake", Mr Forrest said, because in his desperation for Russian diesel fuel he even blamed Ukraine for Russia's invasion.
"That fruitcake happens to control your shareholder value, happens to control your ability to live normal lives and to send your kids to school," Mr Forrest said.
"So I'm saying that's enough, Australia ... let's get off it."
Continuing to rely on oil, gas and diesel isn't conservative, sensible or moderate, Mr Forrest said. It's just lazy, and only appeals to people's lack of education.
Fossil fuels may be the "one we know" but they have been hurting people for decades, and leaves their ability to put bread on the table totally outside their control.
Fortescue has been embarking on a massive electrification program in the Pilbara, powered by large-scale solar generation and on Wednesday announced it had signed its first external customer.
Under the 20-year deal, Fortescue will supply green power to PLS Group's Pilgangoora lithium mine southeast of Port Hedland, in a move that PLS says will lower its operating costs once it commences in 2029.
"This, for us, creates a new long-term revenue stream for Fortescue, and there's room to do much, much more," Fortescue Metals chief executive Dino Otranto told the meeting.
"Business across the Pilbara needs cheap, reliable power, and the green grid gives them another option."
Fortescue already is using its green grid to power electric excavators, drills, loaders and graders across all of its sites, he said.
"They already are, they can, and they're already outperforming their diesel counterparts," he said.
The company has its first 240-tonne electric haul truck at a "secret location" close to the airport and it will be sent to the Pilbara within weeks.
Fortescue has spent four years building the infrastructure needed to operate electric haul vehicles and testing them in real operating conditions.
"What we've learned gives us confidence that an electric fleet will cost less to own and operate than a diesel fleet, and that's using today's technology," Mr Otranto said.
BHP chief executive Brandon Craig told his company's annual general meeting last week that the company had been testing a 220-tonne electric haul truck in the Pilbara but found it needed recharging every few hours.
“People are saying that these (electric) trucks work. Unfortunately, they don't, otherwise we would have them,” he said.
