Komatsu’s power agnostic development truck undergoes testing at a Komatsu facility in the United States. (Photo: Komatsu)
Komatsu has formed a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Alliance with several customers, including Rio Tinto, BHP, Codelco and Boliden to support carbon reduction targets. Through the framework, Komatsu’s GHG partners will work directly with Komatsu to actively collaborate on product planning, development, testing and deployment of the next generation of zero-emission mining equipment and infrastructure.
The alliance’s initial target is to advance Komatsu’s power agnostic truck concept for a haulage vehicle that can run on a variety of power sources including diesel electric, electric, trolley (wired), battery power and even hydrogen fuel cells.
“We are honored that our customers, several of the largest mining companies in the world, have agreed to participate in the Komatsu GHG Alliance and work in partnership with us to develop sustainable solutions for mining,” said Masayuki Moriyama, president of Komatsu’s Mining Business Division. “We look forward to close collaboration with these industry leaders to accelerate development and deployment of the next level of equipment designed to reduce greenhouse gases from mining operations and ultimately achieve the goal of zero-emission mining.”
The alliance brings together mining leaders willing to share time, resources and information to deliver zero-emissions equipment solutions, according to the company. Komatsu intends to expand the alliance to additional mining companies to enhance industry-wide collaboration on solutions to decarbonization.
As a company, Komatsu is committed to minimizing environmental impact through its business, targeting a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions from use of its products and production of its equipment by 2030 (compared to 2010 levels) and a challenge target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The company’s initial concept for a haulage vehicle that can run on a variety of power sources, part of the power agnostic development, is set to make its official debut at MINExpo 2021 in Las Vegas in September.
