At BHP, our medium-term target is to reduce operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 30 per cent from FY2020 levels by FY2030. To achieve this, teams from across our business are taking action now on emissions reduction projects. 

Recently appointed as Principal Power Decarbonisation, Tamahra Kierath and her team are focused on exploring options to provide renewable energy to BHP's Western Australia Iron Ore operations. 

We sat down with Tamahra to learn about her role and hear how her team is contributing to reducing operational GHG emissions for the company. 

What does your role involve?

My role is focused on the development of renewable energy generation and battery storage solutions in the Pilbara. On a day-to-day basis, this includes working on critical activities such as securing land tenure and regulatory approvals as well as engagement with Government, Traditional Owners, stakeholders and peers. 

How is your team contributing to operational decarbonisation? 

At WAIO, around 15% of our operational GHG emissions come from power generation, and to achieve our aim of eliminating emissions from diesel by electrifying our truck and locomotive fleets, we will require more electricity to support that transition. Our Pilbara operations are not connected to the power grid, so my team are exploring a range of opportunities for renewable energy solutions. The transition will start with proven renewable technologies such as wind and solar and we will continue to explore long duration energy storage options as technology advances.

Why is operational decarbonisation important to you?  How does it feel to be able to play your part? 

Decarbonising our operations will enable our sites to be part of the solution for the global energy transition. The world needs mining, not only for traditional purposes but also to provide the raw materials needed to create new technologies that are needed for global decarbonisation efforts. By lowering our operational emissions, we are also improving the sustainability of our operations, and that is something I am proud to be a part of. I would love my son to have a career in mining one day, and by making our operations more sustainable we are setting them up for the future. 

What are you looking forward to? 

I am excited to see our projects progressively come to life as we work towards BHP’s goal of net zero operational GHG emissions by 2050. I can’t wait to see what we can succeed in making possible - whether that's the substations starting to run as renewable power generated from a solar farm that circulates into WAIO’s power grid or watching the first electric haul truck in operation and knowing it is powered by renewable energy, it will be like watching the future of mining in action.