Focusing on idle management

A key focus area for our Australian operations in 2025 was reducing engine idle time – time where heavy equipment is running but not performing productive work.

Reducing engine idle time:
• lowers fuel consumption
• reduces emissions
• decreases unnecessary maintenance
• extends equipment life.

When compared with the first ten months of 2024, this project achieved a reduction of 10,444 engine idle hours from January to October 2025, which equates to approximately 706,000L of diesel and 1,912 tonnes of CO²-e saved.

The use of Pit Companion enabled fleet controllers to take corrective action to eliminate unproductive engine-on hours thereby reducing emissions.In 2026, Thiess aim to trial an anti-idle system on a dozer and truck at a site in Queensland, Australia to help reduce unnecessary engine idling. The batteryelectric system allows operation of air-conditioning and critical electric functions with the engine off, allowing operators to shut down units when not engaged in productive work. Once the machine restarts, the system disengages to allow the battery to recharge in preparation for the next idle cycle.

The trial aims to quantify reduction in idle percentage and impact on maintenance, reliability and fuel use while assessing operational and operator impacts. The system is expected to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and lower maintenance costs through improved monitoring of productive engine-on hours