Antofagasta propels green energy with South America’s first hydrogen-powered locomotive

Chile-focused Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) aims to become the first mining company to use a hydrogen-powered locomotive in South America. It’s part of the copper producer’s efforts to develop alternatives to fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make mining more sustainable.

FCAB, the miner’s rail transport division, unveiled this week the hydrogen-powered train that is to connect Antofagasta city and the regional port starting next year. 

“This milestone will allow us to learn about this new fuel, which only emits water vapour and hot air, unlike diesel,” Antofagasta CEO Iván Arriagada said in a release. “We want to explore other possible uses of this fuel in the future, when the technology is more mature.” 

The 1,000-kilowatt train, developed by China’s leading locomotive manufacturer, CRRC Qishuyan, features a high-capacity battery and an on-board hydrogen storage system operating at 35 megapascals, a high pressure. Its lightweight design reduces the overall weight by approximately 30 tonnes compared to other hydrogen models.

“Our commitment to the community of Antofagasta and to our clients means we explore all available technologies to progressively reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and, in this way, contribute to combatting climate change,”  FCAB general manager David Fernández said in the same release.

The locomotive, seen as key to advancing the group’s decarbonization plan, is to transport sulphuric acid, copper concentrate, anodes, cathodes and other minerals. 

Carbon-neutral by 2050

The move marks a fresh milestone in the company’s effort to develop alternatives to fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make mining more sustainable.

Antofagasta, majority-owned by Chile’s Luksic family, one of the country’s wealthiest, has been incorporating advanced technologies to optimize processes and make them greener for years. 

At its Centinela copper mining complex in Chile’s Antofagasta region, the company runs the biggest fleet of electric pick-up trucks in the country’s mining industry.

It is also is implementing a system to optimize the grinding process and reduce energy consumption, especially when treating harder ore.

The mine’s US$4.4-billion revamp project, known as New Centinela, includes increasing the current molybdenum plant’s capacity and a new development of the Esperanza Sur pit, with the introduction of new autonomous trucks. 

Antofagasta has also inked deals with tech giants, including Swedish-Swiss firm ABB, to speed up its decarbonization efforts. 

The miner is working towards reducing its emissions by 30% by 2035 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Earlier this year, Antofagasta inaugurated a more than US$2-billion desalination plant for its flagship copper mine in Chile, Los Pelambres. The plant is aimed at relieving the effects of a severe drought that has hit production.