(Kitco News) – Rio Tinto announced today that the company is partnering with Komatsu to fast-track the development and implementation of zero-emission mining haulage solutions, including haul trucks.
Rio Tinto said it will conduct a pre-production trial of the new equipment at a Rio Tinto site and has the option to purchase some of the first trucks from Komatsu once they are commercially viable.
Alf Barrios, Rio Tinto’s Chief Commercial Officer said, “Rio Tinto and Komatsu have a shared history of partnership on innovation going back to when we built the world’s largest Komatsu autonomous haulage fleet in 2008.”
“Our support of a trial, and the option to buy some of the first trucks from Komatsu, underscores our shared commitment to actively collaborate on product planning, development, testing and deployment of the next generation of zero-emission mining equipment and infrastructure as we look to decarbonise our business,” added Barrios.
Rio Tinto noted that it is also one of the first companies to join Komatsu’s newly launched Greenhouse Gas Alliance which has an initial target of advancing Komatsu’s power agnostic truck concept for a haulage vehicle that can run on a variety of power sources including battery and hydrogen.
Rio Tinto produces high-quality iron ore, copper, aluminium, and minerals that have an essential role in enabling the low-carbon transition. The company set 2030 targets to reduce its absolute emissions by 15% and its emissions intensity by 30% relative to its 2018 baseline.
Komatsu develops and supplies technologies, equipment and services for the construction, mining, forklift, industrial and forestry markets.