SSAB and Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions have unveiled a letter of intent that will transform Sandvik’s loaders and trucks in the future.
Under the agreement, the two companies will look to secure fossil-free steel to use in the production of Sandvik’s loaders and trucks. SSAB aims to bring fossil-free steel to the market by 2026 with the letter of intent allowing Sandvik its needed volumes within SSAB’s production capacity. As a fossil-free partner to SSAB, Sandvik can also apply for early fossil-free sample deliveries of, for example, a prototype frame, loader bucket or truck box to be used in a demo or concept product.
Head of SSAB Special Steels Johnny Sjöström welcomed the deal between the two companies.
“We’re excited about supporting the sustainability journey of our customers in the mining industry,” he said.
“Fossil-free steel has the same high quality as traditional steel but with hardly any environmental impact. It will help to reduce our customers’ carbon footprint and offer a competitive advantage in the market.”
SSAB delivered the first steel made of hydrogen-reduced iron in 2021. The steelmaker works with iron ore producer LKAB and energy company Vattenfall as part of the HYBRIT initiative to develop a value chain for fossil-free iron- and steel production, replacing coking coal traditionally needed for iron ore-based steelmaking with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. This process virtually eliminates carbon dioxide emissions in steel production.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) recently validated Sandvik’s new targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as aligned with the latest climate science and consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
President of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions Mats Eriksson said sustainability was at the core of SSAB’s business.
As the market demand for fossil-free products increases in the years ahead, this partnership will enable us to offer our mining customers solutions with a drastically reduced CO2 footprint,” he said.