Tag Archives: Ramesh Liyanage

Thiess to use EODev GEH2 hydrogen fuel cell generator at New South Wales mine site

Environmental, Mining services, Power supply for mines, , , , , ,

Toyota Australia has announced Thiess is set to be the first customer to take delivery of its locally-assembled EODev GEH2® hydrogen fuel cell stationary power generator.

Toyota Australia President and CEO, Matthew Callachor, made the announcement at a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the first GEH2 generator assembled at the company’s site at Altona in Victoria.

The 110 kVA GEH2 power generator has been designed by EODev (Energy Observer Developments), a France-based company specialised in hydrogen solutions, with the support of Toyota Motor Europe, and uses the same Toyota Fuel Cell System that powers the Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle.

In October 2023, Toyota Australia announced it was partnering with EODev to assemble the generators at Altona and make them available through its local retail partner Blue Diamond Machinery. It will also export units to New Zealand with Toyota New Zealand acting as the distributor in that market.

Speaking at the ceremony, Callachor said he was proud to see the completion of the first unit assembled at Altona and welcomed Thiess as the first customer.

“This is a great day for us at Toyota and all of our like-minded partners that have brought this important project to fruition as we aim to help drive towards a more sustainable future,” he said. “For Toyota, it’s part of our multi-pathway approach to decarbonisation by providing Australian customers with a range of technologies and mobility solutions, including power generation, that help reduce carbon emissions.

“We are firmly committed to growing, and investing in, the hydrogen economy here in Australia and I’m particularly pleased that Thiess is set to become our first customer for this innovative hydrogen fuel cell generator.

He added: “Toyota has long-standing shared history with Thiess that started when Sir Leslie Thiess imported the very first LandCruisers into Australia to work on the Snowy Hydro Scheme in 1958. Thiess then gained the Queensland and other state distribution rights from our parent company in Japan and was instrumental in building our brand here, particularly in rural and regional Australia.

“Now, we are working together again in a new era as we collectively aim to build a better future for all Australians.”

Thiess Group Executive – Assets, Autonomy & Digital, Ramesh Liyanage, said Thiess is planning to use the generator in its mining operations in New South Wales and was looking to add a second unit in the future as part of its own decarbonisation program.

“This year, as Thiess celebrates 90 years of operations, we are well-progressed in our journey to reduce carbon emissions from our operations, and we are determined to make a meaningful contribution towards decarbonising the world’s resources sector,” Liyanage said.

“We’re pleased at the prospect of being the first customer to take the locally-assembled hydrogen fuel cell generator unit and are excited to be partnering with Toyota once again, this time on cutting-edge technology that has the power to shape a more sustainable future for the world.”

Toyota has invested A$3.27 million ($2.12 million) in its facility at Altona to assemble up to 100 GEH2 generators over the next three years and aims to produce 28 in 2024 for customers largely in the mining, construction and events sectors.

The GEH2 power generator has been in production since 2021 at EODev’s manufacturing facility in France and is currently sold across several European markets, in North America, in the Middle East and in Australia.

Thiess opens ‘dynamic hub’ for mining truck rebuilds

Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , ,

Thiess has celebrated the official opening of its new Thiess Rebuild Centre on Batam Island, Indonesia, a facility that, it says, will serve as a dynamic hub for rebuilding Thiess’ mining trucks, equipment and components for its operations in Asia and Australia.

The official opening brought together many dignitaries and stakeholders, including Mayor of Batam and Head of BP Batam, Muhammad Rudi, the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Penny Williams, Chairman of Kabil Integrated Industrial Estate Group, Kris Wiluan, clients and industry leaders, key suppliers, community representatives and Thiess employees, to witness the unveiling of a facility that will elevate Thiess’ global capabilities in asset management and asset services.

Thiess Group Executive Chair and CEO, Michael Wright, said: “This purpose built, state-of-th-art rebuild centre enables Thiess to play a bigger role in the future of sustainable mining. The rebuilt equipment and components will result in improved machine productivities, incorporating product updates and technology improvements, and delivering enhanced mining efficiencies at lower costs for our clients.

“It also establishes a platform for Thiess to explore decarbonisation and alternative fuel technologies, as well as the opportunity to provide these services to our clients in the future.”

Thiess Group Executive of Asset Management, Autonomy & Digital, Ramesh Liyanage, explained that the rebuild centre will enable Thiess to retrofit rebuilt trucks with clean fuel technologies upon availability, instead of simply replacing end-of-life trucks with conventional diesel trucks currently on the market.

“The Thiess Rebuild Centre is the perfect demonstration of how we can leverage our global expertise and come together to provide sustainable solutions for our clients’ operations, as well as deliver asset management services to the mining sector globally,” he said.

Thiess’ Batam Engineering General Manager, Daryl Albury, added: “We have just completed our first two zero-hour rebuild Cat 789 trucks, which will be heading to Thiess’ Australian operations. The rebuild successfully reset the usage on these trucks to zero hours, extending their lives by a further 50,000 to 60,000 hours each.

“We currently have another eight 789s stripped back and ready to go through a complete overhaul of all major components, as well as a full refurbishment of their chassis and all electrical systems, and technology updates. By the end of 2024, we expect to have around 65 trucks fully rebuilt, a great result for Year one.”

Thiess says it is committed to offering employment, training and development opportunities to local communities where it operates around the world. For the Batam Island communities, this includes opportunities for local people to enter Thiess’ leading apprentice program, as well as for local students to participate in work experience with Thiess, with the goal of furthering their future employment opportunities.

First zero-hour Cat 789 trucks roll out of Thiess Rebuild Centre in Batam, Indonesia

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , ,

Employees at the Thiess Rebuild Centre on Batam Island, Indonesia, have celebrated the completion of the centre’s first zero-hour rebuild Cat 789 truck, marking a significant milestone for the company.

Ten Cat 789 haul trucks from Thiess’ Indonesian operations arrived on Batam Island in October while the facility was being constructed, and, less than two months later, the facility is operational and the first Indonesian truck rebuild has been successfully completed.

Thiess Group Executive Assets, Technical Services and Technology, Ramesh Liyanage, said: “Our Thiess Rebuild Centre team is a great example of our long-standing expertise in asset management and fleet maintenance. This rebuild facility demonstrates how Thiess can leverage our global expertise and come together to solve complex problems. It’s the next step up in the evolution of our capabilities and service offerings.”

Thiess Batam Engineering General Manager, Daryl Albury, added: “The team has successfully reset the usage clock on this truck to zero hours, extending its service life by a further 40,000 to 60,000 hours.

“We have another four 789s stripped back, ready to go through a complete overhaul of all major components, and a full refurbishment of chassis and all electrical systems.

“Once the first batch of five 789s are completed, they will be shipped across to Thiess’ Australian operations to meet the growing demand for fleet. We look forward to this being the first truck of many over the coming years with a plan to rebuild up to 160 Thiess and third-party trucks per annum.”

Thiess-Batam

Thiess ramps up truck rebuilding capability in Indonesia

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Thiess says it has demonstrated commitment to expanding its truck and component rebuilding capabilities on a large scale with the execution of a lease for a new facility at Kabil Integrated Industrial Estate on Batam Island, Indonesia.

Thiess has an extensive fleet of mining haulage trucks in Indonesia and Australia, including more than 650 that will reach the end of their service life in the next eight years and require either replacement or rebuilding, it says.

Thiess Group Executive Chair and CEO, Michael Wright, said: “The new truck rebuild facility at Kabil Estate is an integral part of a strategic initiative to equip Thiess with better control over our asset replacement and rebuild program, and deliver improved financial and sustainability outcomes for our clients and shareholders.

“We are pleased to have secured this site that is centrally located between our Indonesian and Australian operations, with world class facilities and transport and logistics services – the professionalism and support from Kabil Estate has enabled swift mobilisation and we are on track for first production by December 2023.

“This rebuild facility also establishes a platform for Thiess to explore decarbonisation and alternative fuel technologies, as well as the opportunity to provide these services for our clients in the future.”

Kabil Integrated Industrial Estate Group Chairman, Kris Wiluan, said: “We are delighted to welcome Thiess as a valued addition to Kabil Estate. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, strategic location, and a focus on sustainability, we look forward to providing Thiess with a competitive advantage in its operations in Indonesia and Australia while supporting its ecofriendly initiatives.”

Thiess Batam Engineering General Manager, Daryl Albury, said: “Our new facility at Kabil Estate will enable Thiess to reset the usage clock on up to 160 trucks per year to zero hours, through a complete overhaul, including all major components, a full refurbishment of electrical systems and returning all worn components to original equipment manufacturer specification.

“The zero-hour rebuild is expected to extend the service life of each of Thiess’ Caterpillar mining trucks by a further 40,000 to 60,000 hours.”

Thiess Group Executive Assets, Technical Services and Technology, Ramesh Liyanage, said: “Thiess’ reputation for certainty of delivery is built on our expertise in asset management and fleet maintenance, with component rebuild centres across our operations for decades.

“This new truck rebuild facility is the next step up in the evolution of our capabilities and service offerings.”

Thiess’ existing rebuild facilities in Perth, Brisbane and the Hunter Valley in Australia, and in Balikpapan in Indonesia, have a track record in rebuilds and refurbishments of trucks, dozers and components for the company’s fleet of mining assets, as well as limited fee-for-service rebuilds of client assets.