Tag Archives: Rashpal Bhatti

ABB and BHP strengthen productivity, safety and sustainability ties

Automation, Environmental, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , ,

BHP says it is strengthening its strategic partnership with global technology company ABB, through the signing of a multi-year Global Framework Agreement.

ABB is a leader in industrial automation, electrification and digitalisation, and delivers critical technologies and equipment for BHP’s global operations including Escondida in Chile, the BHP Jansen project in Canada, and various packages across its Australian assets.

This new agreement will enable further opportunities for BHP and ABB to collaborate in support of project delivery, operations and maintenance, as well as progressing operational decarbonisation efforts across BHP’s global operations.

To continue progress towards its goal to achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1 and 2 emissions at its operated assets) by 2050, BHP says it knows that enabling technology must be developed and deployed rapidly. Working with leading global technology partners such as ABB has the potential to play a key role in supporting BHP’s decarbonisation ambition, as well as supporting more sustainable growth in copper, potash and iron ore, it added.

BHP Chief Commercial Officer, Rag Udd, said: “Celebrating this partnership in South Australia is no coincidence. South Australia is home to one of the most globally significant copper basins, and the world needs more quality copper to support the energy transition that is already underway.

“Strategic partnerships like the one we have with ABB will be integral in supporting BHP’s growth ambitions, such as those we have in South Australia, as well as our operational decarbonisation efforts globally.”

BHP Group Procurement Officer, Rashpal Bhatti (pictured on the right), said: “This multi-year agreement further solidifies the important partnership between BHP and ABB, and will enable even greater collaboration as BHP looks to maintain productive, efficient and safe operations, reach our operational decarbonisation goals and achieve more sustainable growth.

“BHP’s relationship with ABB is underpinned by a shared commitment to sustainability, decarbonisation and generating social value for the communities in which we operate.”

ABB Process Industries President, Joachim Braun (pictured on the left), said: “This Global Framework Agreement underscores our long-standing partnership with BHP, strengthening our collaboration to drive productivity, safety and sustainability. Together, we are committed to accelerating the deployment of advanced technologies that not only optimise productivity, but also drive decarbonisation efforts in line with global climate ambitions.

“ABB is proud to be a trusted partner for BHP in fostering a more resilient and sustainable future.”

BHP to trial prototype battery-electric HiLux light vehicle at Port Hedland ops

Environmental, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , ,

Toyota Australia and BHP have announced a trial of the first-ever battery-electric HiLux double cab ute prototype, with the vehicle set to be deployed at the Port Hedland operations in Western Australia where it will be used in a range of applications traditionally performed by diesel-powered light vehicles.

Starting in late November, the trial will run for about 12 months, with BHP to provide feedback to Toyota after the conclusion of the trial.

Toyota Australia President and CEO, Matthew Callachor, said the trial marked an exciting opportunity for both companies and was a significant milestone in the HiLux’s history.

“Toyota has long advocated a multi-pathway approach towards decarbonisation, and when we do something, we want to make sure we do it right,” Callachor said. “Joining with BHP to help further develop this HiLux BEV prototype is an important step in creating low-emission technologies in the light commercial vehicle space, particularly for use in harsh and demanding mining environments.

“This trial is also a demonstration of the commitment shown by both parties to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed last year, which leverages the strengths of both companies to develop new, safe and exciting technologies to address decarbonisation,” he said.

BHP President Australia, Geraldine Slattery, said BHP was thrilled to trial the first-ever battery-electric HiLux in an environment where safety and reliability are essential.

“Our ambition to electrify our light vehicle fleet and lower greenhouse gas emissions across our operations depends on enabling technology that can only be achieved through collaborations like this, with leading suppliers like Toyota,” Slattery said.

“With around 5,000 light vehicles at our sites across Australia, we look forward to putting the battery-electric HiLux through its paces and seeing the potential it can bring, not only to reduce diesel use in mining but eventually for all HiLux drivers too.”

BHP Group Procurement Officer, Rashpal Bhatti, said the partnership with Toyota was a terrific example of working with major suppliers to achieve better outcomes.

“The path to decarbonising our operations is one we cannot walk alone,” Bhatti said. “To accelerate the development of new technologies, we are collaborating with original equipment manufacturers and stakeholders in the industry,” Bhatti said.

“Our work with Toyota highlights our shared commitment to developing solutions that ultimately make the world a safer and more sustainable place to live and work,” he said.

BHP’s Port Hedland operation is the largest iron ore loading port in Australia, and one of the largest in the world.

The BHP trial follows the signing of a MoU by the two companies in August 2023, with the stated aim of working together to further decarbonisation measures within BHP’s Australian operations. The MoU aims to see BHP and Toyota Australia collaborate on the areas of safety, engineering and product development, with a particular focus on light vehicle design and the potential and challenges of future technologies.

BHP looks to LNG for lower iron ore shipping emissions

Bulk handling, Environmental, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , , ,

BHP, as part of its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its operations, has released the world’s first bulk carrier tender for LNG-fuelled transport for up to 27 Mt of its iron ore.

The company said: “Introducing LNG-fuelled ships into BHP’s maritime supply chain will eliminate nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions and significantly reduce CO2 emissions along the busiest bulk transport route globally.”

BHP, as part of its greenhouse gas emission reduction plans, recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi Development to work together in the pursuit of emissions reductions, including from the life-cycle use of marketed products.

Rashpal Bhatti, Vice President, Maritime and Supply Chain Excellence, BHP, said emissions resulting from the transportation and distribution of the company’s products represented a material source of its value chain emissions (Scope 3).

“We recognise we have a stewardship role, working with our customers, suppliers and others to influence emissions reductions across the full life cycle of our products,” Bhatti said. “Through this tender, we are seeking potential partners who share our ambition of lowering emissions to the maritime supply chain.”

The tender is open to a select group of industry leaders, from ship owners, banks and LNG fuel network providers, BHP said. “As well as LNG-fuelled transport for up to 10% of its iron ore, the tender seeks other innovative solutions that can lower greenhouse gas emissions and increase productivity from BHP’s freight requirements.”

Bhatti added: “We are fully supportive of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) decision to impose lower limits on sulphur levels in marine fuels.

“While LNG may not be the sustainable homogenous fuel of choice for a zero carbon future, we are not prepared to wait for a 100% compliant solution if we know that, together with our partners, we can make significant progress now.

“This new tender adds to the work BHP is doing with customers, suppliers and parties along our value chain to influence emissions reductions from the transport and use of our products.”

The IMO ruled from January 1, 2020, that the marine sector will have to reduce sulphur emissions by over 80% by switching to lower sulphur fuels, with the current maximum fuel oil sulphur limit of 3.5 weight percent (wt%) falling to 0.5 wt%.

As well as investments in emerging technologies, BHP sets greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for its operations, builds the resilience of its operations and communities to the physical impacts of climate change, and works across sectors to strengthen the global policy and market response, the company said.

Drones go to sea at BHP’s ocean freight operations

Automation, Base metals, Bulk handling, Environmental, IoT, Mine operation news, Mine surveying, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, Steel and iron ore, , , ,

BHP was an early adopter of drones across its mine sites, employing the aerial technology across the group for post-blasting clearance, traffic monitoring, building inspections and operation surveillance. Now, the major diversified miner is looking to drones to improve safety and provide efficiency gains at its ocean freight operations.

While still in the trial phase, BHP’s Vice President of Marketing Freight, Rashpal Bhatti, sees the potential for drones to be a key part of a tablet-based technological package, incorporating artificial intelligence that provides captains a digital view of their ship.

“All of our chartered ships receive a tablet when they berth. And on the tablet they can read the tension of the mooring line which has major safety benefits,” he said.

“The question now is: can the same tablet become a holistic technological package by also delivering ship hold inspection data, draft readings and other critical information captured by drones? It’s all a bit futuristic but that is the direction we are going.”

BHP ships more than 300 Mt/y of iron ore, coal and copper to customers around the world. More than 1,500 voyages are made, making BHP one of the largest charterers of dry bulk carriers in the world.

Like the drones being used across other parts of BHP’s operations, marine drones can be programed to carry a range of specific tasks, the company said.

“In the ocean freight business, there are clear and immediate advantages from using drones in the inspection of holds and in the taking of draft readings. Then there is their nimbleness in the seemingly simple but important task of advising the ship’s bridge on the water position of the rudder,” BHP said.

Hold inspection reports would continue to be independent assessments, but the use of drones promises to cut inspection times per hold from an hour to 15 minutes, according to the company.

Bhatti said: “The hold inspection process involves ships which have five to nine holds which a person checks by climbing down ladders. The inspector has to be physically fit, use fall protection, and carry a parrot (oxygen meter) to make sure there is enough air in the hold. And it takes a lot of time.

“With drones, we can fly them into a hold and capture 4K images, but also infra-red, and other types of cameras that can show cracks or other specific parameters that cannot be seen with the naked eye.”

There are essentially three or four types of ships with hold sizes about the same, according to Bhatti. “So once you programme a drone to go in to a certain ship, it can become an autonomous process.’’

This provides a better way to assess the condition of the hold, and removes a person from a potentially hazardous situation, Bhatti said.

BHP is also testing the use of drones to improve the safety, time and cost of ship draft readings. This is usually done from a boat when the ship is berthed and ready for a cargo.

One of the logistical challenges to overcome is to get the drones on ships when they are offshore at anchorage, as distinct from being berthed.

“We are working with ship owners on this and other ways to use technology to improve safety and productivity,’’ Bhatti said.