The use of LNG in the engines of mining haul trucks has been gaining serious traction of late with OEMs and mining companies, alike, considering dual-fuel options.

Newmont Mining stated in its 2017 sustainability report, released back in April, that it and Caterpillar were looking at such a project as part of the US-based mining company’s attempt to decrease its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The company believes the advancement of dual-fuel engines on haul trucks could displace, on average, 65% of diesel fuel with LNG.

A Newmont spokesman told IM this week that the company is still in the process of evaluating an LNG option and, at some point, it may “take the next step towards a meaningful pilot project”.

Teck Resources carried out such a trial at its Fording River coal operations in British Columbia, Canada.

The pilot test, which used a hybrid LNG/diesel fuel system in six haul trucks and concluded in December 2016, provided many valuable learnings to Teck, including “utilising LNG safely and integrating new technologies at our operations”, Greg Brouwer, General Manager, Technology and Innovation, recently told IM.

“While the particular LNG technology used in this pilot did not achieve the targeted emission reduction benefits, we remain committed to exploring the use of LNG as a haul truck fuel source to reduce GHG emissions and costs and we are currently assessing other technologies,” he said. (You can read more about Teck’s latest innovations in the upcoming IM October issue)

Just last month, GFS Corp reported increased interest in its EVO-MT® System for off-highway machinery. Much of this renewed interest is coming from the mining sector where the company’s products allow haul trucks, wheel loaders and drill rigs to operate on a combination of diesel and LNG or NG+D® as the company refers to it, GFS said.