Insights from ICMM’s Innovation for Cleaner, Safer Vehicles (ICSV) initiative: Accelerating the Adoption of Zero-Emission Haul Trucks in the Mining and Metals Industry

Without these materials, it will be challenging to achieve net zero-emission targets by 2050 and meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. However, simply having access to these materials is not enough. The mining and metals industry itself must also undergo a decarbonisation process to make these goals achievable.

One significant challenge in this journey is the use of large surface-mining haul trucks. With an estimated 28,000 of these trucks in operation, and their numbers expected to increase due to the need for deeper mining, their CO2 emissions could be equivalent to over 15 million passenger cars. Decarbonisng these haul trucks, which transport large amounts of waste rock, ore, and other materials across mine sites, presents a unique and complex task that differs from decarbonising regular passenger vehicles.

This briefing paper provides:

• An overview on the importance, challenges, and opportunities of decarbonising Surface mining equipment, specifically haul trucks.
• Background on ICMM's ICSV initiative and how it is creating a space for collaboration to help better understand the necessary conditions to innovate at speed and scale.
• Examples of ICMM members' journey towards zero-emission alternatives and insight into the ICSV approach.
• An outlook on the transition to zero-emission haul trucks, with an outlook on various areas, such as operational, infrastructural and cultural aspects
• Current ICMM perspective on the indicative path forward towards surface mining equipment decarbonisation, since half a decade of the ICSV initiative’s launch