I think the next five to ten years will see a big expansion in the technology options available to solve some of our toughest challenges for reducing operational emissions. Kathryn Horlin, Program Manager Pathways to Net Zero, BHP
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s Program Manager Pathways to Net Zero, Kathryn Horlin works with BHP’s assets and functions to enable achievement of BHP’s public decarbonisation targets. Her decarbonisation experience at BHP has included developing and deploying technology solutions that drive greenhouse gas emission reductions across BHP’s global operations. Energy and Mines: How is the focus on climate change and ESG driving energy and mobility decisions for mining operations? Kathryn Horlin: BHP has been on this journey for many years and we are making good progress. Our strategy focuses on climate leadership through action to decarbonise and adaptation planning – underpinned by strong partnerships and development and deployment of a range of technologies. I think the next five to ten years will see a big expansion in the technology options available to solve some of our toughest challenges for reducing operational emissions – like the question of how we eliminate diesel from our material movement. Diesel use made up about 40 per cent of BHP’s operational emissions in FY2021. We’re partnering with Caterpillar and Komatsu and participating in innovation initiatives to develop low-emissions haul trucks; and trialling electric trains and light vehicles across our operations.
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EandM: How is the drive to decarbonise shifting the thinking and approach to renewable energy for mining? KH: Electricity made up about 38 per cent of BHP’s operational emissions in FY2021 and we have already started switching to renewable energy as a priority. These changes make a big difference to our emissions profile, and the impact on our operations of a change such as this is often less of an issue compared to other more complex opportunities to decarbonise, since renewable energy is a like-for-like replacement of an existing power source. At most of our operations, which are connected to grid electricity, we’re moving onto multiyear agreements with renewable energy providers. This is a really effective way of starting to bring our emissions down while we are still working on eliminating diesel. And to add a further reflection on this, we expect our electricity demand will increase significantly as a result of electrifying our fleet, and so the role of renewable energy in decarbonisation isn’t limited to simply replacing volumes of existing emissions intensive supply, but by providing a significantly expanded energy source for the future decarbonisation of BHP’s operations. EandM: What are the main challenges of trying to meet 2030 and 2050 decarbonisation goals for mines? KH: Technology readiness is one of the biggest
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