PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miner BHP is trialling the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) at its Yandi iron-ore operations, in Western Australia, to help power mining equipment.

Supplied through a collaboration with energy major bp, the renewable diesel made from HVO will be used in haul trucks and other mining equipment over an initial three-month trial period.

BHP Western Australia iron-ore (WAIO) asset president, Brandon Craig, said that about 40% of BHP’s operational greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions come from using diesel fuel, and this is a core focus of the company’s decarbonisation strategy.

“Ultimately, our aim is to have fully electric trucking fleets at our sites, but alternative fuels like HVO may help us reduce our emissions in the meantime while the electrification transition takes place.

“This collaboration with the teams at Yandi and bp is really exciting to see, given the potential application in our WAIO business and BHP’s operations globally.”

bp president Australia, and senior VP fuels and low carbon solutions, Asia Pacific, Frederic Baudry, said the company’s ambition to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner, and to help the world get to net zero, recognised the crucial role bp had to play in the energy transition.

“Globally, bp plans to increase its investment in low carbon energy. Forging strategic partnerships with companies like BHP enables bp to create solutions that satisfy the increasing demand for lower carbon fuels in sectors like mining and transport.”

BHP has a medium-term target to reduce operational GHG emissions by at least 30% by 2030, from a 2020 baseline. Approximately 40% of BHP’s operational emissions in its 2020 baseline year came from diesel-powered equipment.

The HVO is to have internationally recognised certification as being sourced from more sustainable feedstocks such as waste products.­­