Vale, the Brazilian mining company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with XCMG, a major Chinese manufacturer of mining and construction equipment, to co-develop the world’s first zero-emission motor grader for mining operations.
Although the statement did not mention the power source, it is most likely to be battery electric.
The machinery, utilized for levelling mine access and transportation routes, will undergo testing at mines located in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and Pará.
If approved after testing, Vale intends to purchase several models in the next few years. Vale is currently testing two XDR80TE electric off-highway trucks manufactured by XCMG in Brazil and Indonesia.
XCMG has also cooperated with Rio Tinto in the past and produced several models of graders. Graders play an increasingly critical role in Vale and Rio Tinto’s operations, particularly as both mining giants operate autonomous haul trucks.
Vale aims to replace fossil fuels with clean energy sources to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 33% by 2030.
The MoU with XCMG was one among seven agreements that Vale signed with different Chinese partners at the Brazil-China Business Seminar last month in Beijing to reinforce its strategic agenda and strengthen its relationship with China.
Sources: Vale, INTERNATIONAL MINING
Image Source: XCMG Machinery