Thiess formalises alliances with EACON, Flanders


Staff reporter

Top image :
(Left to right) Flanders chief commercial officer Wayne Chmiel, CEO Kim Weninger and Thiess VP operations – North America, David Perkins

Major global mining contractor Thiess has confirmed alliances with China’s EACON and US-based Flanders to broaden its mobile fleet decarbonisation supply options.

As reported at the time of The Electric Mine conference in Perth, Western Australia, in May this year, the circa-A$6 billion-a-year contractor is targeting 25% lower diesel combustion emissions by 2035 and wants 85% of Thiess-operated light vehicles to be battery electric (BE) or hybrid by 2030.

Thiess this week confirmed at the giant MINExpo in the US it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with EACON under which the latter can supply “OEM-agnostic autonomous technology” including its hybrid and BE trucks.

For EACON, which recently opened an office in Perth, the MoU provides an “opportunity to conduct early production trials at Thiess’ Australian and international mining operations”.

“Thiess has been involved with the delivery of autonomous mining services since 2013 and we are looking forward to exploring EACON’s OEM-agnostic autonomous solutions,” Thiess CEO Michael Wright said.

“These have the potential to reduce the significant capital expenditure barrier to autonomous haulage by enabling the cost-efficient conversion of conventional fleet to full autonomy.

“We’re also interested in EACON’s hybrid and electric truck technology, given our global 1200-strong haul truck fleet and commitment to decarbonising our operations.”

EACON Mining Australia chief operating officer Elaine Jin said the company’s autonomous and sustainable mining technologies were currently in use on more than 500 dump trucks across 13 mines in China.

Thiess has meanwhile signed a three-year deal with Flanders at MINExpo to “collaborate on bringing fleet decarbonisation options to mine owners in North America” and a letter of intent (LOI) covering the Australia and Asia markets.

“This collaboration will bring together Thiess’ 90 years of mining and asset management experience with Flanders’ innovative Freedom hybrid haul truck solutions – designed to deliver up to 30% fuel savings, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing productivity,” Wright said.

 

 

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