BHP reduces diesel emissions
The Yandi iron ore mine in the Pilbara, Western Australia, has swapped its diesel engine excavator for an electric one.
The R 9400 E Liebherr electric excavator has an electric motor and is fed power to the machine by a trailing cable. Its autonomous cable reeler has been optimised for on-site mobility.
The change is reported as a positive step in the company’s goal to achieve their medium-term target of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions from their operated assets.
The target is to reduce 2020 emissions by a minimum of 30% at the end of the decade, with a switch from diesel fuels key to this, says Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) Asset President Tim Day.
The long-term goals are to have net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Renewable electricity at WAIO, where Pilbara is located, is not purchased through the market as it is not connected to an existing grid. The company is still working through a way to introduce large volumes of renewable to the site.
