(Reuters) – Fortescue stated on Wednesday it has signed a $2.8 billion partnership with German-Swiss tools producer Liebherr to create one of many world’s largest zero-emission mining fleets.

The 2 firms had initially signed the deal to develop inexperienced technology-based vehicles to haul iron ore out of Fortescue’s mines in 2022 and have now agreed to extend the mining fleet – to be equipped by Liebherr – to 475 vehicles from earlier 120.

Fortescue, the world’s fourth-largest iron ore miner, expects to purchase 360 autonomous battery-electric vehicles, 55 electrical excavators and 60 battery-powered dozers to interchange about two-thirds of its present mining fleet.

The corporate’s mining fleet consumed about 450 million litres of diesel in FY24 and accounted for 51% of its scope 1 carbon emissions.

The iron ore miner has been exploring numerous methods to supply inexperienced iron – the iron produced with a decrease carbon footprint, whereas additionally increasing into manufacturing of hydrogen from renewable sources.

“This is an important next step in our 2030 Real Zero target – to eliminate emissions from our Australian terrestrial iron ore operations by the end of the decade. The world needs Real Zero now – it simply cannot afford to wait,” Fortescue Government Chairman Andrew Forrest stated in a press release.