Australian iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group and Switzerland-based German equipment manufacturer Liebherr have joined forces to develop a fully integrated autonomous haulage solution for iron ore operations, according to a joint statement by the two companies.
Thanks to the collaboration, the Australian miner will be one step closer to using zero-carbon autonomous haul trucks at its iron ore operations in the Pilbara, Western Australia. Integrated into the autonomous haulage solution, the fleet management system will allow Fortescue to optimize fleet usage, maximize productivity and monitor fuel and energy consumption, helping reduce carbon emissions. This way, the Australian miner aims to become the first miner operating zero-emission vehicles globally.
Currently, Fortescue and Liebherr are doing tests at the former’s Christmas Creek mine site.
Fortescue aims to become carbon-neutral by 2030.