Cobre Panama at the forefront of electromobility to protect the environment

– 38 DTU T284 hybrid trucks are used
– The use of the Trolley System results in diesel consumption savings of up to 90.8%, thus reducing emissions.

Panama, September 11, 2023 – Cobre Panama contributes to the protection of the environment by applying innovation and the use of state-of-the-art technology in the mine’s operations.

The trucks that transport the rock are the Ultra-Class DTU T284. They are hybrid trucks that use fuel and an electric generator. Their propulsion system, combined with modern engine technology, results in reduced fuel consumption, which contributes to reducing the operation’s carbon footprint.

The fleet consists of 38 trucks, whose factory design includes an enclosed engine and mufflers that also contribute drastically to reducing truck noise emissions.

The trucks join line 1 and 2 of the “Trolley”, which is a system that allows the trucks transporting the rock to connect to overhead power lines and achieve significant fuel savings. The design is similar to a streetcar or rail car. Power is collected from an overhead line by means of a pantograph, which is a hinged mechanism that transmits electric current from a power line to an electric conveyance.

In addition, the mine operates 5 electric shovel excavators and 11 electric drills.

Importantly, copper is one of the most important minerals for its electrical and thermal conductivity, making it key for wiring, generators, motors, solar heating, heat exchangers and renewable energy solutions.

In the process of reducing carbon emissions in Cobre Panama, it is expected that by 2025, 30% of the energy used in its operations will come from renewable sources. First Quantum Minerals, Cobre Panama’s parent company, plans to reduce its carbon emissions in its global operations by 50% by 2030.