Mining company BHP trials renewable diesel at iron-ore operations in Western Australia

Photo: BHP

BHP announced Feb. 23 that it is trialing the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, to help power mining equipment at its Yandi iron-ore operations in Western Australia.

Supplied through a collaboration with BP, the renewable diesel will be used in haul trucks and other mining equipment over an initial three-month trial period.

“About 40 percent of BHP’s operational greenhouse-gas emissions come from using diesel fuel, and this is a core focus of our decarbonization strategy,” said Brandon Craig, BHP Western Australia Iron Ore asset president. “Ultimately, our aim is to have fully electric trucking fleets at our sites, but alternative fuels like HVO may help us reduce our emissions in the meantime while the electrification transition takes place. This collaboration with the teams at Yandi and BP is really exciting to see, given the potential application in our WAIO business and BHP’s operations globally.”

Frederic Baudry, president of BP Australia and senior vice president of fuels and low-carbon solutions for the Asia-Pacific region, added, “BP’s ambition to be a net-zero company by 2050 or sooner, and to help the world get to net zero, recognizes the crucial role BP has to play in the energy transition. Globally, BP plans to increase its investment in low-carbon energy. Forging strategic partnerships with companies like BHP enables BP to create solutions that satisfy the increasing demand for lower-carbon fuels in sectors like mining and transport.”

BHP has a medium-term target to reduce operational greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 30 percent by 2030, from a 2020 baseline.

Approximately 40 percent of BHP’s operational emissions in its 2020 baseline year came from diesel-powered equipment.

The HVO is to have internationally recognized certification as being sourced from more sustainable feedstocks such as waste products.­­