WORLD PROSPECTS
Liebherr to build green mining trucks for Fortescue
Iron ore mining major Fortescue Metals Group Ltd and Liebherr Australia Pty Ltd recently signed an agreement for the development and supply of mining haul trucks integrating zero emission power system technologies being developed by Fortescue Future Industries ( FFI ) and Williams Advanced Engineering ( WAE ). The deal was signed at the Liebherr facility in Colmar , France , where IM Editorial Director Paul Moore was in attendance .
The partnership between Fortescue and Liebherr tackles the challenge of decarbonising heavy mobile equipment in the mining industry . It will support global initiatives to reduce emissions and it will enable both Fortescue and Liebherr ’ s Mining product segment to achieve their respective commitments to address global emissions . The partnership will draw from Liebherr ’ s industryleading equipment and technology and FFI ’ s expertise in green technologies to deliver zero emission mining equipment .
The phased supply of haul trucks is anticipated to commence following a two-year joint development period enabling the development and integration of Fortescue ’ s proprietary-owned battery electric and fuel cell electric power system , into Liebherr ’ s proprietary-owned base truck . To achieve the target Liebherr will use its vast OEM expertise in the design and manufacturing of machinery and machinery core technology , such as electric drive systems , engines , hydraulics and electronics to engineer , manufacture and supply the new mining haul trucks , in accordance with Fortescue ’ s requirements . Liebherr will integrate the zero emission power system technologies being developed by Fortescue Future Industries and Williams Advanced Engineering into its
At the recent EXPONOR CHILE 2022 show in Antofagasta , BHP presented the autonomy projects that it is advancing in its two main copper operations in Chile , Escondida and Spence . These contemplate , in total , the incorporation of 85 autonomous trucks and 11 remotely operated drilling rigs , which will represent the largest fleet with this technology so far in South America . It was announced by the Director of the BHP Autonomy Program , Pedro Hidalgo . Spence already has five fully operational autonomous drills and has begun work to convert or replace 33 trucks in its fleet , which BHP has previously said are Komatsu Mining units . The first of them is expected to operate in January 2023 . For its part , Escondida currently has six drilling rigs in operation , in addition to four autonomous trucks ,
T 264 haul truck ( shown on this month ' s cover ), which is the only true 240 t mining truck in this class which guarantees the best match with large hydraulic excavators and other loading tools .
Liebherr is implementing their defined “ Mining Zero Emission Program ”. Where the first step was to build the electrified mining product range and the second step is to offer complete fossil fuel free mining equipment for haulage , digging , and dozing by 2030 . On this pathway , focus is on modularisation to allow the integration of energy type agnostic power trains including alternative fuel combustion engines , battery and fuel cells . Liebherr ’ s partnership with Fortescue is a key component of this program .
“ This project provides an excellent opportunity for us to accelerate the integration of clean energy battery and fuel cell power systems into our mining equipment , which supports our vision and defined strategy to offer future zero emission equipment with the best suitable power train technologies ,” said Oliver Weiss , CTO of Liebherr Mining . “ As a leader in green technologies for the international heavy industry and a world class mining owneroperator , Fortescue is an ideal partner for decarbonised mining equipment and technology
the latter authorised to operate until 2023 . In parallel , it is developing studies to gradually incorporate 52 trucks with autonomous technology to 2025 . The statement did not name the autonomous trucks at Escondida but the company recently released a video after completion in Q3 2021 of its initial Escondida Autonomous Truck Pilot ( EATP ) which lasted a year in the mine ' s Zona Norte 10 and saw 15 Mt of material successfully moved with autonomous Komatsu 930E trucks equipped with FrontRunner technology and using the Modular Mining DISPATCH system . “ Autonomy is not something new in the mining industry . In Australia , various BHP operations have already made this transition towards autonomy and through this experience we have verified the opportunities that this
initiatives , sharing the same vision as us .”
The partnership will also assist the future evolution of the Liebherr business . “ A mining product that will be developed through a close partnership of two tier one companies , including access to the latest zero emission technology , will create an immense industry opportunity and demand ,” said Dr Joerg Lukowski , Executive Vice President for Sales and Marketing of Liebherr Mining . “ It also supports our future investment as we expand Liebherr ’ s already extensive manufacturing capability including at our truck facility in Newport News Virginia USA , and of course into our service and support network in Australia .”
Fortescue Chief Executive Officer , Elizabeth Gaines said , “ The signing of this contract with Liebherr marks a significant step in the delivery of our industry leading decarbonisation target to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 .
“ We look forward to working with Liebherr and WAE to develop and deploy some of the world ’ s first zero emission large mining haul trucks in our operations , while also establishing an important new business growth opportunity for Fortescue as we diversify to become an integrated green energy and resources company .”
Fortescue Chairman and Founder Dr Andrew Forrest said , “ We are on a march to achieve net zero by 2030 , strengthening the economics of our business and making our products acceptable to a zero pollution future . Every day our Fortescue and FFI family take forward the technology , hard work , and willpower of going green , the world mining industry takes one step closer to being the first globally leading industry to go fully green .” www . liebherr . com ; www . fmgl . com . au
Escondida considers wider autonomous haulage rollout
transformation offers in terms of safety , competitiveness and also in the professional development of people ,” said Hidalgo . For his part , the Vice President of Corporate Affairs of BHP , René Muga , assured that “ this technological transformation is part of our journey towards the mining of the future or mining 4.0 , a way of doing mining that also seeks to be more compatible with
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4 International Mining | JULY 2022