Latest News

Officials from Liebherr and Fortescue sign the deal. Credit: Liebherr

Fortescue Metals Group has expanded its alliance with equipment-maker Liebherr, signing a deal worth up to $2.8bn (A$4.07bn) to co-develop and validate a zero-emission mining fleet.

This marks the single largest equipment deal ever for Liebherr Group and Fortescue’s single largest ever contract. 

A 2022 agreement has now been extended to increase the supply of mining fleet by Liebherr to 475 trucks from the earlier contract of 120 haul trucks. Iron ore producer Fortescue plans to purchase around 360 autonomous battery-electric trucks, 55 electric excavators and 60 battery-powered dozers, replacing approximately two-thirds of its existing fleet.

The trucks will be deployed at Fortescue's operations in Western Australia (WA), with the goal of establishing a large-scale, zero-emission mining ecosystem by 2030. Fortescue executive chairman Dr Andrew Forrest said: “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.”

A new report by the Australian Aluminium Council (AAC) asserts that the industry needs rapid access to competitive energy and designated critical mineral status to access global capital and remain competitive.   

AAC CEO Marghanita Johnson stated: “Australia is one of the very few countries anywhere in the world with a complete mine-to-market aluminium supply chain. But this is now at risk from disruptions and interruptions caused by the challenges in the energy transition, uncertain environmental approvals and uneven global competition.”  

According to the AAC, the aluminium sector provides more than 20,700 direct and 55,000 indirect jobs and contributes more than A$18bn to Australia’s economy, with an annual export revenue in excess of A$15bn.  

The AAC recommended that the government should streamline environmental regulatory processes, maintain robust trade remedies and implement a coordinated approach to energy planning across jurisdictions to support the development of green metals. 

The New Zealand Government plans to include 149 projects in a fast-track approvals bill, focusing on housing, infrastructure, mining and agriculture to stimulate a slowing economy.  

The projects comprise 58 housing or land development projects, 43 infrastructure projects, 22 renewable energy projects, 11 mining projects, eight quarrying projects and seven aquaculture and farming projects.  

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said that the mining projects will “significantly contribute to the government’s objective of doubling the value of our mineral exports to $2bn by 2035, involving the extraction of coal, gold, iron sands and mineral sands”.   

The project to mine the seabed off the coast of Taranaki by Trans-Tasman Resources is part of the list. The project has recently drawn attention, prompting protests by Greenpeace.

Another project included on the list is the Bathurst coal mining project on the West Coast.

The mining industry is at a turning point, with electric mines able to operate at significantly lower costs, between 56% and 88% less than those powered by diesel, according to a report by the Electric Mine Consortium.

However, the report reveals that 84% of industry professionals believe Australia's mining sector will not reach the government's 82% renewable energy penetration target by 2030.

Although the mining industry is accountable for around 8% of global carbon emissions, only 60% of companies plan to switch upcoming mining operations to electric. Around three-quarters of miners cite high capital costs as the primary barrier to adopting electric equipment, rated 1.5 times more significant than concerns about operational effectiveness.

According to the report, more than 15% of Sandvik’s global demand is now for battery-electric load and haul equipment, but in Australia, no battery-electric underground haul trucks have been ordered for full operation due to “a lack of policy support”.

BHP has unveiled plans to trial energy transfer technology from Caterpillar, marking a significant step towards sustainable mining operations.

The Cat Dynamic Energy Transfer system, which can power both battery electric and diesel electric large mining trucks, will be tested at various BHP sites.

The system is designed to facilitate energy transfer to mining trucks during operation and can charge electric haul truck batteries while in motion. Its flexible infrastructure is also easily relocatable, offering an advantage over traditional fixed overhead trolleys.

The upcoming trials stem from more than two years of alliance between BHP and Caterpillar, focused on sustainable energy transfer solutions. These trials will validate the technology in BHP's iron ore and copper businesses, including the CAT 793 fleet at Jimblebar, an open-cut pit iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of WA, and the CAT 798 fleet at Escondida in Chile.