Fortescue and Liebherr’s $2.8 billion green mining equipment deal

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals and equipment manufacturer Liebherr have signed a $2.8 billion partnership aimed at developing zero emission mining solutions.

The companies made their announcement, which included approximately 360 autonomous battery-electric trucks, 55 electric excavators and 60 battery-powered dozers, at industry event MINExpo.

The 475 new Liebherr machines represents about two thirds of the current mining fleet at Fortescue’s operations.

And it is the single largest equipment deal in the Liebherr Group’s 75-year history, and represents a complete autonomous battery-electric haulage solution for large scale mining operations.

Also today Fortescue Zero and Downer announced they would jointly develop battery electric locomotives (see separate story here).

The chief executive officer of Fortescue Metals Dino Otranto said the company had an enormous amount of expertise in autonomous haulage, with more than 200 autonomous trucks across mine sites.

Otranto said: “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.

“The fully integrated AHS will be a game changer for us in reducing our carbon emissions.”

The zero emission battery power system used in the battery-electric trucks was developed by Fortescue Zero, Fortescue’s technology arm.

Fortescue Zero’s battery power system will also be integrated into an electric version of Liebherr’s flagship mining dozer, the PR 776.

Once the pioneering zero emission technologies developed within the partnership enter series production, they will become available for mining companies all over the world.

Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm welcomed the announcement between Liebherr and Fortescue.

Stausholm said: “Fortescue’s partnership with Liebherr marks a turning point in the history of the mining industry.

“…It takes foresight and courage to be a first mover, and while we can’t always be first, we can be fast followers.”

Further reading:
Fortescue and Downer aim for battery electric locomotives

Picture: Fortescue