Fortescue reaches electrifying milestone
An electric excavator, deployed by Fortescue, has shifted one million tonnes since becoming operational.
Situated at Fortescue’s Chichester operation in the Pilbara region, it utilises solar and a 6.6 kilovolt substation.
Liebherr’s R 9400 excavator converted from diesel to electric is now operational, exceeding its diesel counterpart.
Decarbonising their fleet will remove around 95 million litres of diesel annually.
Fortescue Metals CEO Dino Otranto expressed excitement over this milestone in their decarbonisation journey.
“Importantly, we’ve been able to achieve this while maintaining our high safety standards. We will have two additional electric excavators commissioned by the end of April.
“Once we decarbonise our entire fleet, around 95 million litres of diesel will be removed from our operations every year, or more than a quarter of a million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.”
Fortescue’s 240-tonne battery electric haul truck, Roadrunner, surpassed performance expectations in on-site testing.
“This included laps around our testing track and ramp tests with hill starts, all while carrying 231 tonnes of iron ore,” Otranto said.
“It’s milestones such as these that are bridging the gap between zero-emissions power systems and diesel fleets, and proving to the world that decarbonisation is possible.”
Proving decarbonisation is feasible, Fortescue continues to lead in sustainable mining practices.