<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/fortescue-strikes-4-billion-deal-for-electric-trucks-and-dozers-to-eliminate-fossil-fuels-at-giant-mines/>
"Iron ore billionaire and green energy evangelist Andrew Forrest has struck a
$4 billion deal that will see hundreds of giant electric trucks, excavators and
dozers installed at its huge iron ore mines to help eliminate the burning of
fossil fuels.
Forrest has set a target of reaching “real zero” terrestial emissions for the
Pilbara iron ore operations of Fortescue Metals, and he wants to achieve that
by 2030. The deal announced overnight with Leibherr – the biggest in that
company’s history – will take a big step towards that goal.
The $US2.8 billion ($A4 billion) agreement with Liebherr includes the purchase
of 360 autonomous battery electric haul trucks – the T264, some 55 electric
excavators, and 60 new battery electric dozers under development, the PR 776.
The 240 tonne haul trucks and the dozers will use electric power and propulsion
systems developed by Fortescue, and Fortescue will also supply the hundreds of
giant batteries needed for the machines.
“This is an important next step in our 2030 Real Zero target – to eliminate
emissions from our Australian iron ore operations by the end of the decade,”
Forrest said in a statement after the announcement at a mining expo in Las
Vegas.
“The world needs Real Zero now – it simply cannot afford to wait. The green
solutions we need are here today, and Fortescue Zero is supplying them and
rolling them out across our massive mining operations.”
Fortescue’s targets are way more ambitious than its mining peers, such as BHP
and Rio Tinto, even though they are also trialling electric haul trucks and
other equipment. But Forrest, who opposes the use of offsets as “greenwashing”,
says the industry must move more quickly.
“We invite all companies in the mining, heavy industry and haulage sectors to
join us. The solutions are there, and the missing ingredient is leadership,” he
said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
