BHP to Replace Entire Haul Truck Fleet at Escondida Mine in Chile

BHP, Caterpillar and Finning have announced an agreement to replace BHP’s entire haul truck fleet at the Escondida mine, the world's largest copper producer, located in the Antofagasta Region in northern Chile. This agreement is part of the strategic equipment renewal process developed by Escondida. The new Caterpillar 798 AC electric drive trucks will feature technology that delivers significant improvements in material-moving capacity, efficiency, reliability, and safety and generate a positive impact in key initiatives for the future, such as decarbonization, diversity and inclusion, autonomous technologies, and the development of local capabilities. The first trucks are expected to arrive at the mine in the second half of 2023, with delivery of the remaining trucks to extend over the next 10 years as the three companies work to replace one of the largest fleets in the industry worldwide, currently comprised of over 160 haul trucks. Maintenance and support services provided under the agreement advance BHP’s local employment and gender balance strategies. Finning´s Integrated Knowledge Center, located in Antofagasta, will provide top of the line industry technical support for the fleet. The agreement also allows Escondida BHP to accelerate the implementation of its autonomy plans by transitioning the fleet to include technology that enables autonomous operation. In addition, the agreements set forth a technological path that helps Escondida BHP meet its decarbonization goals, through the progressive implementation of zero-emission trucks.