Brazilian mining giant Vale has announced further progress in its journey to reduce the use of fossil fuels in its operations. The company has begun field tests with haul trucks using B30 and B50 biodiesel, which it says could lead to a reduction in emissions of up to 35% compared to the diesel currently consumed by Vale in Brazil. A new phase of testing of an electric haul truck, which began in 2022, has also started.
The company is seeking to increase the biodiesel blend in haul trucks from the current 15%, established by Brazilian law, to a percentage of 30% to 50%. Lab tests conducted since 2023 it says have shown that the alternative is promising, which led Vale in November 2025 to move forward with field tests at the Mariana Complex in Minas Gerais, Brazil, with vehicles with a capacity of 150 tons. The photo Vale included with the release showed a Caterpillar 150 ton class 785 truck equipped to use B30 biodiesel.
The goal of the tests is to monitor the trucks’ performance for at least six months and assess what adjustments will be needed to the vehicle or fuel so that they can run on a higher biodiesel blend while maintaining performance close to current levels.
“The strategy for decarbonising industrial operations is based on the integration of multiple technologies and energy routes. To mitigate fossil diesel consumption in the haul truck fleet, investments in biofuels and ethanol are being prioritised, in addition to the adoption of electrification systems in specific applications, where technical and economic feasibility analysis demonstrates greater operational efficiency,” says Carlos Medeiros, Executive Vice President of Operations. “Biodiesel, after validation of performance parameters, has the potential to promote significant environmental gains and serve as a reference for large-scale adoption in the sector.”
In addition to biodiesel, Vale has signed agreements with two of its main suppliers of haul trucks – Caterpillar and Komatsu – to develop dual-fuel engines powered by ethanol and diesel. Both biodiesel, produced mainly from soybean oil, and ethanol are products in which Brazil offers a significant competitive advantage.
Vale has also begun a new phase of testing an XCMG battery-powered electric haul truck – the XDR80TE with a load capacity of 72 tons, which began to be evaluated in 2022. With the lessons learned in the first phase, the vehicle manufacturer made adjustments and, this November 2025, the truck returned to the company for a new round of testing. The vehicle will be used for at least six months at the Capão Xavier mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Its performance and operational efficiency will be evaluated. Among the advantages offered by electric vehicles are zero CO2 emissions and reduced noise.
“In the technological development process, it is important to test, learn lessons, make adjustments, and test again until we achieve the ideal result. We see electrification as a solution with the potential to reduce carbon emissions in the long term,” says João Turchetti, Director of Decarbonisation at Vale.
Vale has set a goal of reducing its scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions (direct and indirect) by 33% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. By 2024, the company will have invested R$ 1.4 billion to achieve its goals.