Fortescue and Liebherr to supply zero emissions trucks

Mining equipment manufacturer Liebherr will supply ‘green’ mine haul trucks to Fortescue Metals Group and other buyers that incorporate Fortescue group’s proprietary zero-emission power systems.

The two companies announced a partnership to develop and supply trucks utilising technologies being developed by UK group Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), which was recently bought by Fortescue Future Industries (FFI).

The deal aims to green Fortescue’s truck fleet, secures a pathway to speed commercialisation of Williams advanced battery systems and propels Fortescue to become a zero emission power system supplier to a tier one original equipment manufacturer.

Fortescue CEO Elizabeth Gaines said the agreement was a significant step in the delivery of the company’s decarbonisation target to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.

Gaines said: “This agreement builds on the considerable value already created through Fortescue’s acquisition of WAE and demonstrates the significant long term opportunity for Fortescue to commercialise green power system technologies to the broader heavy duty mobility market.

“We look forward to working with Liebherr and WAE to develop and deploy some of the world’s first zero emission large mining haul trucks in our operations, while also establishing an important new business growth opportunity for Fortescue as we diversify to become an integrated green energy and resources company.”

Under the partnership, Fortescue will purchase 120 haul trucks from Liebherr, with delivery aligned to its fleet replacement and sustaining capital expenditure forecast.

The commitment represents approximately 45 per cent of the current haul truck fleet at Fortescue’s operations.

Truck haulage consumed approximately 200 million litres of diesel in FY21 and accounted for 26 per cent of Fortescue’s Scope 1 emissions.

The phased supply of haul trucks is anticipated to commence following a two year joint development period enabling the development and integration of Fortescue’s proprietary-owned power system into Liebherr’s proprietary-owned base truck.

Liebherr will supply mining haul trucks to Fortescue in both battery electric truck and fuel cell electric truck configurations, in accordance with Fortescue’s requirements.

The first of the zero emission haul units will be fully operational within Fortescue mine sites by 2025, with the further aim of having the units available for commercial sale from that time.

Liebherr-International president Dr. h. c. Willi Liebherr said: “This partnership with Fortescue will draw from Liebherr’s industry leading equipment and technology, as well as Fortescue Future Industries’ expertise in green technologies, to deliver zero emission mining.”

Fortescue chairman Dr Andrew Forrest said: “Every day our Fortescue and FFI family take forward the technology, hard work, and willpower of going green, the world mining industry takes one step closer to being the first globally leading industry to go fully green.”

Picture: Fortescue Metals Group/Liebherr truck at FFI, Perth

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