Australian iron ore major Fortescue has nearly quadrupled the size of the mine vehicle fleet it is buying from Liebherr under a whopping US$2.8 billion “green equipment partnership”.
Fortescue said the new deal expanded its 2022 agreement to buy 120 Liebherr battery-powered trucks – incorporating the Fortescue Zero battery package – to about 475 “zero emission machines” including some 360 battery-electric and autonomous haul trucks, 55 electric excavators and 60 battery-powered dozers.
Phased supply of the gear started last October.
Fortescue said the Liebherr equipment would account for about two-thirds of its current mining fleet, which used about 450 million litres of diesel fuel in FY24 and accounted for 51% of its scope 1 emissions.
“The partnership is expected to create one of the world’s largest zero emission mining fleets and represents a major breakthrough in the pursuit of a mining industry no longer reliant on fossil fuels,” the miner said.
Seventy-five-year-old Liebherr is one of Europe’s largest privately-owned construction and mining equipment manufacturers.
Fortescue executive chairman Andrew Forrest said, “partnerships with companies and people like Liebherr and Willi Liebherr – where ambition is backed by action – are critical”.
“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.”
Fortescue Metals CEO Dino Otranto said Liebherr’s T264 BE truck with a Fortescue Zero battery power system would be one of the first zero emission solutions for mine haulage in operation globally. He said the miner already had more than 200 autonomous trucks at its sites.
“We have used our strong track record of being a first mover in autonomy and our technological know-how to derisk zero emission fleets to enable the industry to break free from the pilots and prototypes,” he said.
“The fully integrated autonomous haulage solution will be a game changer for us in reducing our carbon emissions.”
Fortescue says its stationary fast charger with robotic connection options can provide up to six megawatts of power and charge the current BE T264 in 30 minutes.
