Electric trucks and electric-powered conveyors are a big part of Teck’s plans to be carbon neutral by 2050.
The diversified miner said it is making the change as nations and other businesses are transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Teck said the push also aligns with commitments made by Canada and Chile – which are home to the majority of Teck’s operations – to be carbon neutral by 2050.
“Setting the objective to be carbon neutral by 2050 is an important step forward in our commitment to reducing emissions and taking action on climate change,” said Don Lindsay, president and CEO, in a news release. “Climate change is a global challenge that our company and our industry need to contribute to solving. We will pursue the technologies and measures necessary to reduce carbon emissions across our business, while continuing to responsibly provide the metals and minerals necessary for the world’s transition to a low-carbon economy.” Teck laid out a general roadmap to meet its carbon neutrality pledge.
“The most significant sources of emissions across our business today and in the future are from power supply and mobile equipment, such as haul trucks. To decarbonize these emission sources and ultimately achieve our goal of carbon neutrality,” said the company.
The company plans to replace internal combustion engine vehicles with zero-emissions alternatives. Diesel haul trucks will be replaced with electric or low-carbon trucks. Teck will also roll out electricity-powered conveyors.
Teck isn’t the first to make the pledge to drop internal-combustion engines. Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) announced last year that it plans to build the world’s largest fuel-cell truck and have it operating in 2020.
Teck’s move reflect a wider industry challenge. Last year, miners said their top concern was keeping a social license to operate, especially amid rising pressure for the industry to tackle climate change. In October, the World Gold Council laid out a roadmap for how gold miners can reduce emissions.
Teck said it has been already been advancing low emission industrial practices. The company claims that various initiatives since 2011 have reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at its operations by 289,000 tonnes, which is the equivalent to taking over 88,000 combustion engine cars off the road.
The company’s low emission goal is being weighed while it seeks to significantly increasing copper production through the construction of its Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 Project in Chile.
