Energy producer Moeve and mining firm Emerita Resources have signed Spain’s first agreement to deploy 100 per cent renewable diesel (HVO) on an industrial scale within the mining sector.
Under the partnership, Moeve will act as the preferred supplier of second-generation (2G) biofuel to power heavy construction machinery, operational equipment, and mineral transport fleets at Emerita’s Iberian Belt West (IBW) project in Huelva.
The 2G biofuel, produced at Moeve’s Palos de la Frontera facility in Huelva, reduces lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90 per cent compared to conventional diesel. The deployment is projected to eliminate approximately 2,600 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions annually during the construction and operational phases of the mine.
The agreement establishes a integrated local industrial ecosystem in Huelva, linking regional biofuel manufacturing directly with mining sites and nearby mineral export infrastructure.
Carlos Barrasa, Executive Vice President of Commercial and Clean Energies at Moeve, stated that 2G biofuels provide an immediate, compatible decarbonisation pathway for heavy industrial sectors that present electrification challenges.
Joaquin Merino, Chief Executive Officer of Emerita Resources, noted that adopting renewable diesel aligns with the company’s environmental strategy while establishing a model for sustainable mining operations across Spain.
To support expanding regional demand, Moeve and its partner Apical are constructing a new 2G biofuel facility in Huelva as part of a €1.2 billion complex. The plant will feature a annual flexible capacity of 500,000 metric tonnes of HVO and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), supporting Moeve’s strategy to achieve 2.5 million metric tonnes of annual production by 2030.
