As global leaders gather in Belém, Brazil, for COP30 to accelerate climate action, mining giant Vale has unveiled new milestones in its effort to scale back fossil-fuel use across its operations. The company has begun on-site trials of haul trucks running on B30 and B50 biodiesel blends—fuels that could cut emissions by as much as 35% compared with the diesel Vale currently relies on in Brazil. At the same time, a fresh testing stage for its electric haul truck, first introduced in 2022, is now underway.
Vale’s goal is to move beyond Brazil’s mandatory 15% biodiesel blend, raising the concentration to between 30% and 50% for its heavy-duty fleet. Laboratory experiments begun in 2023 delivered encouraging results, prompting Vale to launch field tests in November at its Mariana Complex in Minas Gerais. The trials involve 150-ton trucks and are expected to continue for at least six months, focusing on evaluating performance and identifying any mechanical or fuel-system adjustments needed to maintain operational standards with higher biodiesel content.
“The roadmap for decarbonizing industrial operations depends on combining diverse technologies and energy solutions,” explained Carlos Medeiros, Vale’s executive vice president of Operations. “We are prioritizing investments in biofuels and ethanol, alongside selective electrification, where technical and economic analysis shows clear benefits. Once performance benchmarks are confirmed, biodiesel could deliver substantial environmental improvements and become a model for broader sector adoption.”
Beyond biodiesel, Vale has also partnered with two major haul truck manufacturers to develop engines capable of running on a mix of diesel and ethanol. Both fuels—ethanol and biodiesel derived largely from soybean oil—are strong suits of Brazil’s energy sector, giving the company an added advantage as it scales these initiatives.
Electric Haul Truck Advances
The company is also progressing with its battery-powered haul truck project. The 72-ton vehicle, first tested two years ago, has returned to Vale with new adjustments based on earlier findings. The latest testing phase will unfold over the next six months at the Capão Xavier mine, also in Minas Gerais, where the truck’s efficiency, reliability, and day-to-day performance will be monitored. The electric model promises zero direct CO₂ emissions and quieter operation—two key benefits for mining environments.
“Innovation requires repeated testing, learning, refining, and testing again until we reach the optimal solution,” said João Turchetti, Vale’s Director of Decarbonization. “We view electrification as a long-term path to meaningful emissions reductions.”
