Moeve, Emerita Resources sign 1st agreement in Spain to supply renewable diesel to mining sector
Moeve announced Sept. 28 that it has signed the first agreement in Spain with Emerita Resources to deploy 100 percent renewable diesel, also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), on an industrial scale within the mining sector.
Through this partnership, Moeve has positioned itself as the preferred supplier of this second-generation biofuel, which can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent over its entire lifecycle compared to traditional diesel.
The hydrotreated biofuel is produced at Moeve’s facility in Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain, and will be implemented in the operations of the Iberian Belt West project, led by Emerita Resources and located in the province of Huelva, between the towns of Puebla de Guzmán and Paymogo.
Specifically, it will be used both in the heavy machinery employed for construction and operations at the complex and in the heavy-duty transport of concentrates.
In addition to being key to decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify—such as air, maritime and heavy-duty road transport—the main added value of using HVO lies in its compatibility with current engines.
The use of this biofuel in transportation operations during the mine’s construction and operation is estimated to prevent the emission of approximately 2,600 metric tons of CO2 annually—a reduction equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of 170,000 trees—which would allow a truck to travel a distance of 3 million kilometers.
“Accelerating the decarbonization of heavy industry is one of Moeve’s key strategic priorities, and to achieve this we need forward-thinking partners,” said Carlos Barrasa, executive vice president of commercial and clean energies at Moeve. “The agreement reached with Emerita demonstrates that the energy transition can go hand in hand with competitiveness by leveraging second-gen biofuels as an immediate solution for the decarbonization of sectors that are difficult to electrify.”
For his part, Joaquin Merino, CEO of Emerita Resources, emphasized the importance of this pioneering agreement for the Spanish mining sector, which is “fully aligned with Emerita’s environmental DNA.”
In this regard, he noted that a project like the one the company is developing in Huelva “is the ideal partner for this Moeve project as an example of sustainable mining.”
Efficient, local energy ecosystem in Huelva
This agreement is notable for fostering a new industrial ecosystem in the province of Huelva.
The proximity between renewable fuel production, mining operations and the mineral export port enables efficient integration and creates a competitive value chain.
To ensure access to 100 percent renewable diesel, Moeve, together with its partner Apical, is moving forward with the construction of a new plant in Huelva, which will form part of the largest second-generation biofuel complex in southern Europe.
With a cumulative investment of 1.2-billion euros (USD$1.36 billion) and a flexible production capacity of 500,000 tons per year of HVO and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), this infrastructure is key to achieving the company’s goal of leading the Iberian market with 2.5 million tons per year by 2030.
