T 284 Under Catenary: Liebherr Power Electrifies Chile

Liebherr Mining is strengthening its commitment to mining electrification with the commissioning of Chile’s first fully operational trolley line at the Collahuasi copper mine in the Tarapacá region.

Four Liebherr T 284 haul trucks have been retrofitted to operate under catenary, as part of a pilot project designed to demonstrate the benefits of trolley technology in terms of performance and emissions reduction.

“Collahuasi has set an ambitious goal of carbon neutrality (Scopes 1 and 2) by 2040. We are proud to support them on this journey,” said Richard Kraemer, Head of Transport Electrification Solutions at Liebherr Mining Equipment Newport News Co.

Liebherr delivered the complete solution, from design to operator training, including engineering, component supply, site supervision, and technical support. The project features a 1-kilometer line powered by two 5.5 MW transformers, capable of supporting two loaded trucks simultaneously.

Early results are promising: the catenary-powered trucks reach 25 km/h uphill—more than double the speed in diesel mode—while significantly reducing fuel consumption.

For Liebherr, this achievement marks a major milestone in decarbonizing mining transport, resulting from close collaboration between local teams, international engineers, and project partners.