Resources giant will replace fossil fuel powered trucks

A mining giant plans to transition away from diesel heavy vehicles.

BHP recently revealed it would replace fossil fuel powered trucks across its Australian operations.

“Ultimately, our aim is to have fully electric trucking fleets at our sites,” Western Australia Iron Ore asset president Brandon Craig said in a public statement.

The proponent will supplement battery electric technology with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), with trials already underway at the Yandi mine.

Multinational energy producer BP will spend at least three months converting HVO into renewable diesel, for haul trucks and other mining equipment.

“About 40 per cent of BHP’s operational greenhouse gas emissions come from using diesel fuel, and this is a core focus of our decarbonisation strategy,” Craig said.

“Alternative fuels like HVO may help us reduce our emissions in the meantime while the electrification transition takes place.”

There is also potential to roll out HVO derived fuels at other mine sites across the globe.

“Globally, bp plans to increase its investment in low carbon energy. Forging strategic partnerships with companies like BHP enables bp to create solutions that satisfy the increasing demand for lower carbon fuels in sectors like mining,” BP Australia president and Asia Pacific fuels and low carbon solution senior vice president Frederic Baudry said.

The effort is promised to help BHP reduce operational greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30 per cent before the end of the 2030 financial year.