BHP is testing Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to power mining equipment at its Yandi iron ore mines in Western Australia.
The renewable diesel created from HVO will be utilised in haul trucks and other mining equipment throughout a three-month trial period, thanks to BHP’s collaboration with bp.
BHP Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) Asset President Brandon Craig stated that diesel fuel accounts for around 40% of BHP’s operating greenhouse gas emissions, and this is a crucial emphasis of BHP’s decarbonisation strategy.
“Ultimately, our aim is to have fully electric trucking fleets at our sites, but alternative fuels like HVO may help us reduce our emissions in the meantime while the electrification transition takes place,” Craig said.
According to Craig, the partnership with the Yandi and bp teams is interesting, considering the potential use in BHP’s WAIO business and global operations.
“bp’s ambition to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner, and to help the world get to net zero, recognises the crucial role bp has to play in the energy transition,” bp President Australia, and SVP fuels and low carbon solutions Asia Pacific Frederic Baudry said.
Baudry stated that bp intends to enhance its global investment in low-carbon energy. Baudry added that by forming strategic alliances with firms such as BHP, bp is able to develop solutions that meet the growing need for lower-carbon fuels in industries such as mining and transportation.
BHP has set a medium-term goal of reducing operating greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% by FY2030, compared to a baseline of 30% in FY2020. Diesel-powered equipment accounted for approximately 40% of BHP’s operational emissions in its FY2020 baseline year.
