Brazillian mining giant Vale will test battery-electric and ethanol haul truck variants in a partnership with Caterpillar.
The agreement covers the trial of various energy transfer systems as Vale seeks to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 mining carbon emissions 33% by 2030.
The battery electric trucks, which have a 240-tonne capacity, will be tested at the company’s operations in Minas Gerais, Brazil. In addition, Vale will test Caterpillar’s energy transfer technology in Pará, Brazil.
Under the agreement, the companies will explore the viability of ethanol-fueled haul trucks, which, according to Vale, may help the company take a vital step towards net zero.
“We believe that ethanol has great potential to contribute to the 2030 target. This is because it is a widely adopted fuel with an established supply network in Brazil”, says Ludmila Nascimento, Director of Vale Energy and Decarbonization.
“We recognise that achieving this goal requires an active partnership with manufacturers, and we are committed to supporting them in this endeavour”.
“We are developing options to decarbonise Vale’s operations, such as electrification and alternative mining fuels. The most viable solutions will be adopted”.
For their part, Caterpillar is happy to have the chance to develop their products with a global stage partner.
Denise Johnson, President of Caterpillar Resource Industries Group, said Vale had been a crucial partner in technological and product deployments.
“We look forward to continuing that collaboration as we launch the next generation of our iconic mining solutions to support our customer’s operational and environmental objectives”.
The foreshadowed closure of the Ravensthorpe Nickel operation will go ahead as planned throughout May.
Wind-down operations are already underway as the operation, owned by First Quantum, succumbs to a persistent drop in Nickel prices.
As Indonesia ramps its Nickel production, many Australian producers have come under increasing cost pressures.
First Quantum is the latest in a string of Nickle closures; however, it’s significant due to its size.
The company said, “First Quantum acknowledges that its decision will have a significant impact on its employees and their families”.
“A smaller, dedicated care and maintenance team will be appointed from current RNO employees to ensure the site is safe and preserved for a future re-start”.
All production at the site will cease by late May, and the care and maintenance period will begin.
First Quantum sought to ease the pain by engaging the local communities affected.
“The company will continue to support the local community and play an active role in the Shire of Ravensthorpe during the care and maintenance period,” said a spokesperson for First Quantum.
“This will include ensuring a large proportion of the care and maintenance team are based locally and maintaining the current First Quantum-owned housing within Hopetoun”.
After rewinding its operation, First Quantum says it had no choice but to mothball the facility for economic reasons.
“Despite efforts to maintain operations by transitioning to a new approach that involved stopping mining activities, processing stockpiles, and adjusting production methods, the site is currently incurring significant and projected losses,” the spokesperson said.
RNO will continue to meet all its environmental management and monitoring, rehabilitation and other regulatory requirements for the site.
In a world-first world, road trains carrying iron ore through the Pilbara will be completely driverless.
MinRes has adopted the Autonomous Haulage Solution (AHS) for its Ken’s Bore mine near Onslow, WA.
The first road trains, adapted for autonomy by Hexagon in Perth, arrived this week. They will initially feature real drivers as their capacity and safety are tested.
The Kenworth C509 prime movers are single-engine powerhouses capable of hauling 330 tonnes of iron ore.
MinRes will ultimately field a full fleet of 150 trucks, each fitted with AHS technology.
David Geraghty, the director of technology and innovation at MinRes, said the delivery is an exciting milestone for Onslow, also adding that autonomous road trains are set to become a game-changer in the industry.
“It’s fantastic to see the first batch arrive in Onslow in preparation for first-ore mid-2024”, Geraghty said.
“They will initially commence as crewed operations, with trials and verifications with safety drivers to occur later in the year before we transition to autonomous operations”.
Trucks will travel on a 150km dedicated, fenced haul road from Ken’s Bore mine site to the MinRes transhipping terminal.
Dust suppression is a critical issue in the world of mining and resources.
Learn more about GRT’s industry-leading and IoT-connected SMART Dosing Units, and discover how we’re driving better dust suppression solutions!
If you’d like to talk with an expert, simply contact us!
Your feedback is important to us.
If you enjoyed reading this Global Road Technology industry update, please let us know by leaving a REVIEW.
References:
https://www.first-quantum.com/English/home/default.aspx
https://www.mineralresources.com.au/news-media/minres-prime-movers-on-the-move-to-onslow/
Are environmental regulations, health and safety concerns or potential profit loss a concern right now?
Contact Us Now