BHP awarded a contract to Normet Canada to deliver a large fleet of multiuse battery-electric vehicles (BEV) to the Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan, Canada.

The fleet’s delivery period will commence in the March quarter 2023 and extend to 2024.

The Normet fleet order follows on from Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions being awarded a contract by BHP to deliver 10 underground battery-electric loaders along with 1 electric tethered loader for use at Jansen.

BHP aims to develop underground mining equipment and automation solutions with a focus on sustainability, with emissions reduction, improved productivity and advanced health and welfare of employees being key inputs to the mining company’s decision to adopt BEV technology.

With the mine’s pursuit of electrification of mobile equipment and technology that mitigates natural gas emission, Jansen is expected to emit about half the average CO2 per tonne of product compared with the average Saskatchewan potash mine, according to BHP.

The Jansen project has the potential to be the largest potash-producing mine in the world and is expected to operate for up to 100 years, providing a rich source of potassium for soil fertilization purposes and hence supporting food production, BHP says. Production is targeted for 2026.

BHP is also making waves in Chile. Work Truck reported in August that it will get an entire new haul truck fleet at the Escondida mine. The mine is in the northern region of Chile. The new haul will help accelerate the plans by introducing autonomous technology.