Fortescue has launched the first electric excavator electric excavator at its Christmas Creek mine, located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This implementation represents a significant step forward in its mining decarbonization plan.
About the new electric excavator
The unit, identified as EX7144, began operating at Hall Hub after weeks of joint work between the Decarbonization, Asset Management and Mining teams. This is the fourth electrical equipment in operation within Fortescue’s operations and the first of nine planned for the current year.
According to Rebecca Roper, mining manager at Christmas Creek, seeing the electric excavator at work in the pit is a clear sign of the company’s commitment to innovation applied to sustainability. Roper recently joined the firm and highlighted the key role of the team behind the initiative.
More equipment on the way
It is important to note that the second excavator is already in the assembly phase and two more units are expected to arrive before the middle of the year. Thanks to previous experiences at other sites such as Cloudbreak, the commissioning process has been more streamlined and controlled, explained Asad Majrouh, general manager of Christmas Creek.
This move towards electric machinery is intended to gradually replace the use of dieselone of the main generators of emissions in mining. In doing so, Fortescue reinforces its goal of leading a more sustainable mining industry. more sustainable mining industry without sacrificing operational efficiency.
By introducing electric machinery into a large-scale operation like Christmas Creek, Fortescue reduces its carbon footprint and sets an industry precedent. The company demonstrates that it is possible to integrate advanced technology with environmental impact reduction strategies, creating a model effect for other players in the industry.
Christmas Creek Mine
Christmas Creek is the second mine at Fortescue’s Chichester Center and home to the company’s Green Energy Center. Multiple clean energy-focused pilot projects are being implemented there, aimed at accelerating the energy transition of mining operations.
The mine operates two processing plants. The first is dual feed and receives ore from a primary crusher and the new Hall Hub, via an overland conveyor belt that transports high grade ore from over 14 km away. The second incorporates WHIMS (Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separators) technology, capable of recovering an additional 10% of ore compared to traditional methods, by magnetically separating crushed rock mixed with water.
With an annual production capacity of 51 million tons, Christmas Creek is a key part of Fortescue’s operating ecosystem and its strategy towards efficient, technified mining with less environmental impact.
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Source and photos: Fortescue