Vale, Cummins & Komatsu advance joint Dual Fuel Program for mining engines
Vale has announced that its partner Cummins Inc has started the successful commissioning of a new ethanol fuel test cell, marking a significant milestone in both companies’ joint project with Komatsu to develop an ethanol/diesel-powered surface mining haul truck aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This achievement underscores the three companies’ shared commitment to decarbonising the mining sector and advancing sustainable energy solutions.
Announced in July 2024, the dual fuel program aims to retrofit existing diesel engines in Komatsu haul trucks to operate on both ethanol and diesel, significantly enhancing sustainability. These modified 230-290 ton haul trucks – the first vehicles of this size to run on ethanol in the tank – will be able to use up to 70% ethanol, potentially lowering CO2 emissions footprint by up to 70%. QSK60 engine testing is expected to run until 2026 before field tests begin at Komatsu’s facilities.
Carlos Medeiros, Vale’s Executive Vice President of Operations, stated: “We continue to make progress on our decarbonisation projects, reinforcing Vale’s commitment to this issue. Ethanol is a priority input to achieve our goal of reducing the use of diesel in our operations while keeping reliability and operational excellence.”
Vale has set a target of reducing its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2030. Among mine equipment, the haul truck is one of the biggest consumers of diesel and therefore a major emitter of greenhouse gases. The election of ethanol as an alternative to diesel is justified because it is already a widely adopted fuel in Brazil, with an established supply network.
“Ethanol/methanol diesel dual fuel systems offer significant benefits to the mining industry, including the realisation of up to ~70% decarbonisation – lowering harmful emissions such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter – while continuing to meet comparable productivity and performance requirements,” said Luke Mosier, Cummins Innovation Program Leader. “More than that, miners who utilise alternative fuels can utilize their existing infrastructure and leverage their current fleet, facilities and personnel.”
“Our ongoing dual fuel project, developed in close collaboration with Cummins and utilising a blend of ethanol and diesel, is an important bridge technology aimed at supporting Vale’s near-term decarbonisation goals,” said Dan Funcannon, Senior Vice President, Surface Haulage, Komatsu. “This initiative reflects our shared commitment to practical, scalable solutions that advance sustainable mining. The launch of the dedicated test cell is an exciting milestone as we continue to develop and deploy low-carbon technologies for the future of haulage.”
Cummins low carbon fuel test cells accommodate a wide range of high horsepower engines – from 38L to 95L fuel capacity – and ensure seamless transition of a variety of alternate fuel types for varied testing scenarios. The specialised facilities also maintain a high precision environment to deliver accurate emissions with reliable data and provide safe storage conditions to prevent contamination and maintain fuel quality.
In line with the Paris Agreement’s ambition to limit global warming to below 2°C by the end of the century, Vale has announced goals to reduce its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 33% by 2030, with the aim of becoming net-zero by 2050. The company has also pledged to cut emissions from its value chain (Scope 3) by 15% by 2035. To date, Vale has invested a total of US$1.4 billion in decarbonisation initiatives to achieve these goals.
The post Vale, Cummins & Komatsu advance joint Dual Fuel Program for mining engines appeared first on International Mining.