RTL and the Greenhouse Challenge Plus Programme

What is Greenhouse Challenge Plus?

It is part of the Australian Government's climate change strategy. Greenhouse Challenge Plus is a partnership between the government and industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency.

RTL are proud members of the Greenhouse Challenge Plus Agreement, it is a voluntary agreement between Roche Thiess Linfox Joint Venture and the Commonwealth of Australia, whereby Roche Thiess Linfox Joint Venture undertakes to put in place cost-effective actions to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions and to encourage its staff and other organisations to implement similar measures.

Sources of Greenhouse Emissions

RTL has a significant fleet of heavy earthmoving plant equipment. RTL's principal source of greenhouse gas emissions are those generated by diesel powered earthmoving plant used in mining and earthworks activities carried out at the three major brown coal mines within the Latrobe Valley. Approximately 50% of RTL's diesel fuel usage is consumed at the Yallourn Mine, 27% at Hazelwood and 16% at Loy Yang. The remainder is consumed by our road truck fleet and light vehicles. These percentages can fluctuate depending on the level of work at the three major locations.

Action Items within the Greenhouse Challenge Plus Agreement

RTL have implemented a number of greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies, these include:

• Managing greenhouse has emissions from D11 Dozers operating in the Yallourn Mine.
• Implementation of fuel saving strategies with coal cartage road trucks.
• Working with Suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new plant purchased.
• Improving operator techniques.
• Developing management systems to measure monitor and support greenhouse gas reduction initiatives.
• Investigating potential for the use of alternative fuels.

Monitoring Fuel Usage

In the interests of continuos improvement RTL monitor and measure fuel usage on a monthly basis this provides a basis for comparison however the variability of the type of work carried out at times invalidates this methodology. We continue to investigate the most appropriate ways of establishing true comparisons of our monthly emissions to prove or otherwise improvements in our greenhouse performance.