Partnership Between Vale, Komatsu, and Cummins to Develop Ethanol-Diesel Trucks

Vale and Komatsu have entered a groundbreaking agreement to develop and test Dual Fuel haul trucks, powered by a blend of ethanol and diesel, in collaboration with Cummins. These trucks, with payloads ranging from 230 to 290 tons, will be the first of their size globally to operate on ethanol. This joint investment in research and development highlights the dedication of all three companies to promoting sustainability in the mining industry.

The Dual Fuel Program will support Vale's objectives of cutting scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions (direct and indirect) by 33% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The program acknowledges the need to reduce carbon emissions in mining operations. Its objective is to modify current diesel engines in haul trucks so they can operate using a blend of ethanol and diesel, thereby enhancing their sustainability considerably. The retrofitted trucks will be able to use up to 70% ethanol, thereby reducing direct CO2 emissions by up to 70%.

"José Baltazar, Engineering Director for Mine and Plant Operations at Vale, emphasized the importance of removing diesel, a fossil fuel, from our mine operations to achieve our decarbonization objectives. "Implementing this solution with our existing fleet, without the immediate need for new truck purchases, is an excellent approach to advancing our decarbonization efforts while maintaining our focus on reliability and production efficiency."

" We are actively advancing and evaluating solutions to achieve our carbon reduction goals by 2030. This partnership is a significant step towards achieving our shared objectives," said Benjamin Stear, EDT Product Manager at Komatsu. "We are eager to collaborate with our customers through the DF change management process, ensuring productive operations while working towards our emission reduction goals."

Over the next two years, the project will focus on developing, testing, and implementing ethanol-diesel engines produced by Cummins. Luke Mosier, Mining Product Planning & Strategy Manager at Cummins, emphasized, "Komatsu and Vale share Cummins' dedication to innovation and reducing carbon footprints. We're excited to contribute our expertise in internal combustion engines to this project, which will advance future-ready technology."

Diesel emissions from mining operations contribute to 15% of Vale's direct CO2 emissions, with haul trucks being the largest diesel consumers and emitters. The choice to develop an ethanol-based solution is influenced by its accessibility within existing supplier networks and its widespread use in Brazil.

"We must leverage Brazil's competitive advantage in biofuels, as we are one of the world's largest ethanol producers," says Ludmila Nascimento, Energy and Decarbonization Director at Vale. "Through this partnership, we can reduce our direct emissions by 2030 with a cost-effective solution and also help strengthen the low-emission industry in Brazil."