Transitioning to battery electric vehicles

We are working to reduce diesel usage across the Group to meet our goal of net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions and Scope 3 emissions from fleet we operate by 2050. A key part of this work involves trialling battery electric and hybrid vehicle options at our sites.

CHILE
Thiess undertook multiple initiatives in Chile to reduce their emissions from vehicles in 2023. These are listed below:

• Formalising an agreement to lease two Voltera R6 electric cars, each with a range of 280-300 km, which were delivered to their Llanos Copper Project in October. This initiative aims to reduce emissions by approximately 7.2 tCO2-e each year.
• Partnering with Hualpen, a Chilean transport company, to trial the use of an electric bus to transport personnel during shift change from the city of Calama to the Llanos Copper Project in Minera Centinela, approximately 100km away. The electric bus results in an estimated emissions saving of approximately 140 kgCO2-e per trip, which Hualpen estimates will result in a total emissions saving of approximately 15 tCO2-e per year.
• Switching to electric taxis to transport Thiess personnel in Santiago. With a monthly average usage of 150km, the team aimed to reduce CO2-e by one tonne in 2023. As at end of October 2023 a total of 1.89 tCO2-e was avoided through the initiative.

USA
In the USA, Thiess investigated the application of an electric 4x4 light vehicle in the challenging weather conditions at their molybdenum site.

The site is around 3.5km above sea level with temperatures often dropping to -20°C. The chosen engineered solution uses a Hypercraft electric drive system to convert a heavy-duty designed Ford F-250 Super Duty 4x4. This fully electric solution provides a range of 160 — 225km and was deployed in December 2023.

AUSTRALIA
At the Mt Pleasant Operation in New South Wales, Australia, Thiess have introduced two electric vehicles (EVs) – a Polestar 2 and Kia EV6 – and a hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander, as pool cars.

The vehicles provide personnel with an opportunity to trial the experience of driving an EV to encourage wider adoption. Two ABB 22kW electric chargers were installed to support the trial with a third installed for use by employees and visitors who drive EVs to site.

INDONESIA
In 2024, Thiess will look to trial the replacement of two vehicles at the Balikpapan Support Facility and two at their Jakarta office in Indonesia with a hybrid and an EV.