Chilean miner Antofagasta is evaluating green hydrogen projects to cut down its Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions.
Scope 1 emissions originate from a company's own business activities, while Scope 3 emissions emanate from the activities by the company's supply chain.
To lower Scope 1 emissions, Antofagasta is looking to cut down the carbon footprint of its transport fleet. Transport is currently responsible for two-thirds of its operations' emissions.
The company's Hydra project envisions switching its transport fleet from diesel combustion to hydrogen.
Antofagasta is working with French energy company Engie, Australian mining think tank Mining3, CSIRO Chile and Mitsui & Co to test a fuel cell and battery powertrain combustion system.
The tests will focus on the machine's ability to perform at high altitude with suspended dust.
Antofagasta will conduct the tests at the Centinela copper-gold-molybdenum mine in Chile, which consumes more diesel than any of Antofagasta's mines. The fleet at Centinela includes 120 mine haulage trucks that transport ore from six open pits.
It is very difficult to electrify trucks at Centinela because of the structure of the mine, mine and concentrator manager Benjamin Pieper said.
The first Hydra prototype is expected to be operating in the March quarter, Antofagasta manager Andres Alonso said.
"We're introducing electric-powered trolley assist programs at Los Pelambres, green hydrogen at Centinela and battery-powered trucks at Antucoya," Alonso said. "We're also negotiating with the haulage truck suppliers to see what technologies they can offer us when it comes time to renew our fleets."
To reduce Scope 3 emissions, Antofagasta is working to transform rail cargo services to be hydrogen-powered.
Working with Chile's Energy Sustainability Agency, Antofagasta is analysing ways to have a pilot run of a locomotive operating on green hydrogen within the next three years, Alonso said.
The train service serves Antofagasta assets as well as other mining companies, and could make a significant dent in emissions, vice president of corporate affairs and sustainability Rene Aguilar said.
Antofagasta is also assisting in evaluating the feasibility of a green ammonia production project in Chile, sponsored by Engie and Chilean explosives company Enaex.
Antofagasta is considering signing an offtake agreement to use ammonia or ammonia nitrate for blasting. This ammonia could also fuel trucks and ships.
The company is also sponsoring Mision Cavendish to improve public knowledge about green hydrogen.
As a member of ICMM, Antofagasta has joined the organisation in resolving to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
