Experts believe that mining will be key in the development of the green hydrogen industry, just as it was in promoting desalination plants and renewable energy to reduce water and carbon footprints.
The transport of ore and waste using high-tonnage trucks represented 79.7% of the direct GHG emissions of the Chilean copper industry in 2020, according to state copper commission Cochilco. “Most mining companies have set staggered goals that, in many cases, seek to reduce carbon emissions by 50% between 2030 and 2035 to reach carbon neutrality in 2050,” Pablo Peñaranda, business development director for Latin America at Black & Veatch, told BNamericas.
For this reason, the industry must “reduce the consumption of fuels such as gas, diesel, fuel oil and coal to introduce electromobility, change fleets from secondary or light equipment to electric or hydrogen, and make a transition of operating primary equipment, such as hybrid or fully electric mining trucks, including trolley systems and fast charging stations,” added Peñaranda. The decarbonization of mining transport also involves other equipment that uses diesel such as backhoes, forklifts, tank trucks and drills. That is partly what motivated the Chilean government’s promotion of the green hydrogen industry. Authorities last week announced the formation of a group of experts that will work on measures to implement a green hydrogen roadmap that will consider mining’s needs.
A US$400mn loan from the Inter-American Development Bank will be used for the plan.
Experts believe that mining will be key in the development of the green hydrogen industry, just as it was in promoting desalination plants and renewable energy to reduce water and carbon footprints. The transport of ore and waste using high-tonnage trucks represented 79.7% of the direct GHG emissions of the Chilean copper industry in 2020, according to state copper commission Cochilco.
“Most mining companies have set staggered goals that, in many cases, seek to reduce carbon emissions by 50% between 2030 and 2035 to reach carbon neutrality in 2050,” Pablo Peñaranda, business development director for Latin America at Black & Veatch, told BNamericas.
For this reason, the industry must “reduce the consumption of fuels such as gas, diesel, fuel oil and coal to introduce electromobility, change fleets from secondary or light equipment to electric or hydrogen, and make a transition of operating primary equipment, such as hybrid or fully electric mining trucks, including trolley systems and fast charging stations,” added Peñaranda.
The decarbonization of mining transport also involves other equipment that uses diesel such as backhoes, forklifts, tank trucks and drills. That is partly what motivated the Chilean government’s promotion of the green hydrogen industry. Authorities on Thursday announced the formation of a group of experts that will work on measures to implement a green hydrogen roadmap that will consider mining’s needs.
