BHP and Caterpillar have announced a partnership to develop and deploy zero-emissions mining trucks at BHP sites to reduce operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
A joint press release termed the partnership between the global mining giant and the world’s biggest equipment maker a “milestone”, which is the result of over 12 months of close collaboration between the two companies in analysing energy demands and the options to apply this new technology on BHP sites.
“To support progress towards BHP’s long-term goal of achieving net zero operational GHG emissions by 2050, BHP will have early access to zero-emissions equipment developed by Caterpillar and hands-on learning opportunities to ensure successful deployment at BHP sites. The collaboration will help shape the processes, technology and infrastructure that will be required to support zero-emissions machines and the mine sites of the future,” said BHP in its statement.
An element of the collaboration between the two giants will be to extend their efforts to support a more inclusive mining industry. Over the coming year, BHP intends to provide frontline operator and maintainer input into the Caterpillar design process, to support the development of machines that can be operated and serviced by a broader range of the workforce.
BHP’s chief commercial officer, Vandita Pant, said: “We are pleased to announce our partnership with Caterpillar Inc. to develop and deploy zero-emissions mining trucks at BHP. Climate change is a critical global challenge, and we know that partnering with others will help accelerate the transition to a low carbon future. The opportunity for our teams to input into the design process also gives us confidence that the trucks will be safer and easier to operate for a workforce that’s more diverse than ever.”
Denise Johnson, Caterpillar group president, said: “Caterpillar is pleased to work with BHP on the next generation of large mining trucks and mine site technology. Deeply integrating our teams and timelines, will allow for faster deployment to deliver zero-emissions solutions.”