Brazilian miner Vale has entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with XCMG Construction Machinery for the supply of mining and infrastructure equipment to help accelerate zero-carbon mining operations.
The MoU for the supply of zero-emission and autonomous equipment comes as the two firms seek to expand the use of electric battery-powered vehicles. According to the agreement, XCMG will deliver equipment prototypes, including two electric battery-powered mining haul trucks to Vale.
Vale plans to test these zero-emission trucks, each weighing up to 72t, at its operations in Minas Gerais, Brazil; and Indonesia. These trucks are planned to be delivered in the first half of next year.
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The Brazilian mining firm also plans to trial another electric truck weighing up to 240t at a later date.
Vale global business solutions executive vice-president Alexandre Pereira said: “This initiative is in line with Vale’s goal of reducing its carbon emissions of scope one and two by 33% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and reinforces our ambition to lead the road to low-carbon mining”.
“We also see this partnership with XCMG Machinery as one more important step in the deepening of our long-term and win-win partnership with China, which dates back to 1973, when we sent our first iron ore shipment to this country”, Pereira added.
