Global mining services company Thiess has just released its 2024 Sustainability Report, with an opening message from Executive Chair and CEO Michael Wright that highlights the challenges many major mining fleet operators are facing in hitting emissions reduction targets, though the Scope 1 and 2 bar Thiess had set for itself was high.
He states: “While we continue to make progress on our decarbonisation strategy, our current estimations indicate our target to be at net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by the end of 2025 will not be met, largely due to the delay in anticipated low-emissions technology and our strategic decision to prioritise abatement over offsets.”
Thiess companies continued working with partners, clients and other organisations to develop transitional and interim technology to reduce emissions. It is also continuing to explore current commercial solutions, such as renewable energy agreements and biofuels, that may be able to deliver emissions reduction faster.
A major factor in Thiess not meeting its Scope 1 and 2 target is the lack of suitable low-carbon commercial options for its light vehicle fleet, which accounts for approximately 70% of its Scope 1 emissions profile excluding MACA’s civil division. “While commercial low-emission options for our fleet are progressing, we are focussed on reducing our office, workshop and rebuild facility emissions and introducing hybrid light vehicles into our workplaces and projects.”
Group companies began the process of introducing hybrid light vehicles into the Thiess fleet in 2024 and it is currently on track to meet its target of 85% of its light vehicles to be battery-electric or hybrid by the end of 2030. “We acknowledge that most current replacements are hybrids with an electric drivetrain and an estimated emissions reduction potential of up to 10% compared to standard models. We will continue to replace our standard utility vehicles with hybrids when they are due for replacement while continuing to trial a variety of other hybrid and full battery-electric light vehicle options to suit remote and mining applications.”
Hybrid Toyota Hilux utility vehicles have been introduced into Thiess’ Australian fleet and an electric Toyota wagon is being trialled in NSW. RTL have also introduced a hybrid vehicle into their fleet in Victoria. Thiess also continues to trial an F250 light vehicle with an electric powertrain and battery upgrade in the United States.
On larger mining trucks the report adds that due to economic and operational constraints associated with the development and operation of a fully hydrogen-powered or electric large mining fleet, “many companies are investigating shorter-term, interim solutions to convert existing fleet – providing immediate emissions reductions for less upfront capital cost and less waste than replacement options.”
Recognising this opportunity to expand its services portfolio, in 2024, Thiess explored technologies to offer near-term and transitional fleet decarbonisation solutions to clients. This included investigating alternative OEMs and the conversion of existing diesel fleet and integration of autonomous systems. As part of this strategy, in September, Thiess entered into collaboration agreements with FLANDERS and EACON.
The FLANDERS OEM-agnostic retrofit-friendly systems can be integrated into mechanical and diesel-electric trucks, offering flexibility to incorporate new trucks, or retrofit existing fleet to extend their operational life. These solutions improve efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Thiess has partnered with FLANDERS to complete a feasibility assessment for a bridging solution to support the Australian market until a full battery-electric solution becomes commercially available.
Thiess also signed a MoU with autonomous haulage solutions provider EACON in August 2024 to deliver OEM-agnostic autonomous technology and advance Thiess’ decarbonisation and sustainability goals. Thiess will leverage EACON’s expertise in autonomous driving technology and electric and hybrid truck engineering while providing them with an opportunity to conduct early production trials at Thiess sites. During 2024, Thiess also investigated trialling a 93-t payload hybrid diesel-electric truck with EACON. This truck could reduce emissions by up to 40% when compared to traditional diesel models, depending on the nature of the mining operation it is deployed at. The size of the truck is suited to Thiess’ Indonesia operations who are working towards commencing a trial in 2025.
In 2024, Thiess division RTL actively engaged with Chinese OEMs on potential low-emission earth-moving equipment including battery-powered loaders and hybrid graders, and potential applications in Australia, and Thiess says it also investigated Sandvik’s latest advancements in its battery-electric underground loader offering as well as the engineless full battery rigid frame dump truck from Hitachi, which is based on the 200 ton class EH4000AC-3 platform.
Thiess was also invited to trial Komatsu’s first 20-t electric excavator for three months commencing in 2025 and is currently reviewing sites to identify the best project for the trial. Thiess also signed onto Caterpillar’s Pathways to Sustainability Energy Transition Program, which is a collaboration aimed at supporting the energy transition of their fleet and operations.
During 2024, two full battery-electric Scania medium trucks were built, with delivery to a workshop in December 2024, and plans to deliver to a site in early 2025. Charger installation and change management processes were also undertaken in 2024 and will be completed in 2025. The trucks will be trialled at New South Wales and Queensland sites to develop capability for support of battery-electric vehicles in the Group fleet.
The Thiess Institute is also developing plans to upskill personnel in maintenance of battery-electric equipment to support the Thiess workforce to offer maintenance services to current and future clients as the industry moves to hybrid and battery-electric fleet.
In 2024, with the support of the client and a partnership with MES, Thiess also continued a trial of dual fuel – diesel and natural gas – to power mining fleet, with two 793F trucks at a Queensland mine site, achieving diesel substitution rates of more than 70%. Positive trial results confirm the gas substitution delivers significant emissions reductions. Key learnings from the trial have been gathered and a strategy is being developed for expansion of the program.
Thiess additionally completed a trial of two Komatsu hybrid excavators at the Melak Project in Indonesia in 2024, and collaborated with Toyota and Coregas at the Mt Pleasant Operation in Australia to establish the first Toyota hydrogen-powered generator for mine site operations. The generator was installed in late 2024 and will be trialled through 2025. Thiess is also exploring an opportunity with Blue Diamond and Toyota to identify a project in Indonesia where a Toyota hydrogen-powered generator could be deployed.
