Codelco partners with Toyota and Mitsui to explore decarbonization of mining fleet
Codelco has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japanese companies Toyota and Mitsui for a strategic collaboration in the development and testing of sustainable mobility solutions in its mining divisions.
This agreement seeks to promote competitive and environmentally responsible mining, minimizing its carbon footprint through electrification, the Chilean state-owned copper miner stated in a news release on Tuesday.
Codelco is currently the world’s largest copper producer, operating seven mining divisions in Chile: Chuquicamata, Minister Hales, Radomiro Tomic, Gabriela Mistral, Salvador, Andina and El Teniente.
The MOU contemplates that the companies will share knowledge, conduct studies and carry out pilot tests in the field, which would allow the performance and adaptability of Toyota’s vehicles to be evaluated in the Codelco mining divisions.
Toyota and Mitsui will then evaluate the technical needs required by these vehicles in the mining environment, considering factors such as energy consumption, distances travelled and times of use, thus accelerating the development of technologies in line with industry conditions.
“The agreement not only opens the door to new technologies for electromobility in mining, but also allows us to advance in our purpose of being a pillar of the sustainable development of Chile and the world,” Felipe Lagno, Codelco’s corporate manager of innovation and technology said in the statement.
“At Toyota, we see only one enemy, which is carbon emissions. Therefore, this agreement allows us to advance our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, taking advantage of all our capacity as leaders in the zero and low emissions segment that we will make available to Codelco, to together generate sustainable mobility within mining operations,” added Takuya Takahashi, CEO of Toyota Chile.
The Japanese carmaker began operations in Chile more than 40 years ago and today leads the national automotive market. Toyota Chile now has a network of 57 points of sale, covering all regions of the country.