BHP looks to Tritium in decarbonisation push

Tritium and Miller Technology are supplying battery electric vehicles and chargers to a BHP Mitsubishi Alliance mine in Queensland, in support of BHP Group’s net-zero emissions by 2050 goal.

Miller is a maker of vehicles for mining, including the battery-electric Relay vehicle, which has a two-tonne carrying capacity and can supply 1,500 newton-metre of torque and has been supplied to one of BMA's sites. 

Tritium has provided RT175-S chargers. These have a 175 kilowatt output and can add 171 kilometres of range to an EV in 10 minutes, according to Tritium. Modifications were made by the company to meet mining standards.

The number of vehicles or chargers provided was not given in the announcement.

“Tritium is uniquely positioned to support the mining industry’s transition to electric vehicles through innovative charging technology that is sealed to protect against sediment, dust and moisture, and rated to operate in harsh conditions,” said Tritium CEO Jane Hunter. 

“Tritium’s chargers have been operating in the field since 2013 across an array of conditions from the Nordics to Australia. In this industry, that’s a long history of proven track record which gave Miller Technology the confidence to choose Tritium to partner with them in this operational change in support of their goal to reduce emissions at their sites.”

BMA (a BHP and Mitsubishi Development joint venture) operates mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.

Removing every combustion engine vehicle on BHP’s sites would be expensive and only take care of part of the company’s emissions, Bloomberg points out, noting that all diesel assets account for 40 per cent of scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, according to BHP’s climate report.

The news follows last week’s announcement that the mining giant was divesting its oil and gas assets as part of a move away from fossil fuels.

Picture: supplied

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