Mining Decarbonization: Scope 1 and 2 Abatement Technology, Cost, and 2030 Timelines

Diesel haulage and off-grid power account for the bulk of mining operators' Scope 1 emissions, and the main abatement pathways differ sharply in capital intensity, grid dependency, and readiness. Battery-electric haul trucks carry a price premium over diesel and need charging infrastructure that can run into the tens of millions per fleet, while trolley assist has shown substantial diesel displacement at high per-kilometer installed cost. Renewable microgrids with storage now deliver meaningful diesel offsets at remote sites, and green hydrogen stays commercially marginal until electrolyzer costs fall further. Several majors have committed to roughly 30% Scope 1 and 2 cuts by 2030 but have pushed material spending into the 2030s as technology readiness constrains the pace. For diversified miners, Scope 3 through downstream steelmaking dwarfs operational emissions, and the ramp of direct-reduced-iron capacity sets the structural timeline.