Human haul drivers to be phased out of a position
Contributed Photo/Courtesy Caterpillar: Caterpillar and Freeport-McMoRan are collaborating to convert the mining company’s fleet of Cat® 793 haul trucks to an autonomous haulage system.
IRVING, Texas – Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) announce that the two companies are collaborating to convert the mining company’s fleet of 33 Cat® 793 haul trucks at its Bagdad mine in Arizona to an autonomous haulage system (AHS) using Cat MineStar™ Command for hauling.
“We look forward to partnering with Caterpillar to become the first U.S. copper mine to implement a fully autonomous haulage system and are excited about the numerous benefits it will bring to our Bagdad operation and employees,” said Kathleen Quirk, President, Freeport-McMoRan. “The three-year conversion project is expected to improve safety, optimize our fleet, reduce GHG emissions through reduced idle time, and position us to capitalize on future technological advancements in electrification.”
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Command for hauling, Caterpillar has more than 620 autonomous trucks operating with 15 customers on three continents. While operating autonomously, these trucks have hauled more than 6.9 billion tons of material and traveled more than 143 million miles without causing any reported injuries.
“We are pleased to collaborate with FCX as they transition to fully autonomous haulage at Bagdad,” said Denise Johnson, group president of Caterpillar Resource Industries. “The Cat 793 haul truck remains Caterpillar’s most popular autonomous truck model and is well proven to enhance safety, increase productivity, and reduce idle time across multiple operations, including copper mines. Additionally, Caterpillar continues to work with Freeport, and other mining companies, to introduce new electrification technologies supporting their sustainability objectives.”
Located approximately 100 mi (161 km) northwest of Phoenix, Ariz., the Bagdad mine is a porphyry copper deposit containing sulfide and oxide mineralization. It consists of a nearly 85,000 ton-per-day (77,000 tonne-per-day) concentrator that produces copper and molybdenum concentrate and a solution extraction/electrowinning (SX/EW) plant that produces 9 million lb (4,1 million kg) of copper cathode per year. It is one of the oldest, continuously operating SX/EW plants in the world.
Bagdad will be the first mine in North America to be fully autonomous but it likely won’t be the last one. Freeport operates both the Morenci mine and Safford mine locally, and the company will be evaluating transitioning to autonomous haulage on a site-by-site basis. If other sites like Safford or Morenci follow suit “will be determined by economics and experience at Bagdad,” said Freeport-McMoRan External Communications Manager Jim Telle. He added that more information on the company’s strategy moving forward was listed in its own climate report it commissioned.
According to a “letter to stakeholders” in the report by Freeport Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Richard C. Adkerson, Freeport is not only providing the copper for electrification to assist in global decarbonization, but the company is looking to reduce its own carbon footprint and auto hauling is one point on its roadmap to do so. The trucks that are being automated will eventually be all electric with no emissions.
The letter advises the company has operated fully autonomous electric trains for years and will now transition the haul truck fleet in Bagdad to 100 percent autonomous over a three-year period.
“This project is expected to optimize our fleet, contribute to safety, and reduce GHG emissions through reduced idle time and improved operating efficiency,” Adkerson wrote. “We believe this project will also position us to capitalize on future technological advancements in electrification.”
More details on Cat MineStar Command for hauling can be found by contacting a Cat dealer or visiting https://www.cat.com/.
About Caterpillar
With 2022 sales and revenues of $59.4 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed to contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries, and Energy and transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html.
Jon Johnson contributed to this report.
