Global mining giants Rio Tinto (RIO.US) and BHP Group (BHP.US) will collaborate to officially test battery-powered electric haul trucks in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
In a statement on Monday local time, Rio Tinto announced that the joint goal of Rio Tinto and BHP is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible before 2050. They will partner with renowned mining equipment manufacturers Caterpillar and Komatsu to conduct independent electrification trials of their battery-powered electric haul trucks.
These trials will assess the performance and specific operational efficiency of electric haul trucks for mineral transport in the Pilbara environment. This marks the first phase of large electric haul truck transport testing in the Pilbara region by BHP and Rio Tinto’s mining operations.
According to the statement, two Cat 793 mineral transport trucks are expected to begin trials in the second half of 2024, while two Komatsu 930 mineral transport trucks will start trials in 2026.
Simon Trott, Rio Tinto’s Chief Executive of Iron Ore, stated in the release: “As we work to repower our Pilbara operations with renewable energy, such collaborations bring us closer to solving the decarbonization challenges of our high-emission mining operations and achieving our net-zero emissions commitment.”
Statistics show that the global mining industry has a significant carbon footprint. Mining involves not only substantial energy consumption but also high fuel demand for heavy transportation machinery. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) 2022 data, carbon dioxide emissions from energy combustion and the entire industrial process accounted for 89% of total energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.
To significantly reduce carbon emissions and achieve near-zero emissions before 2050, Rio Tinto and BHP, both major emitters, plan to deploy electric haul trucks for mineral transport. They are also constructing new solar power facilities and introducing solar and wind projects at multiple mines worldwide to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and transition operations to renewable energy. Additionally, BHP is involved in several carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology projects.
[Source- 上海有色网] 力拓与必和必拓测试电动矿用卡车 助力净零排目标 https://news.smm.cn/news/102773903