The Chilean multipurpose Lirquén terminal has taken delivery of the country’s first fully electric reach stacker, a SANY SRSC45E3 model.

The reach stacker features a telescopic boom capable of lifting up to 45T, a fast-charging system which allows for rapid recharging and operates “exclusively on certified renewable electricity”.

Terminal owner and operator DP World, in 2021, is the first port operator in South America to receive renewable energy certification from Chilean energy company Colbun, creating the foundation for equipment electrification across its terminals.

To support this transition, DP World carried out electrical infrastructure upgrades at Lirquén Terminal, including enhancements to one of its substations, to ensure sufficient on-site charging capacity for heavy-duty electric machinery.

DP World says the new reach stacker will prevent approximately 160,000kg of CO2 emissions annually and save 60,000 litres of diesel fuel.

DP World adds the delivery is a milestone which marks “a significant step forward in decarbonising heavy-duty port equipment - a category traditionally reliant on diesel due to its size, power demands, and lifting capacity”.

The port operator says the replacement of diesel combustion power with renewable-powered electricity, reduces emissions but also allows for more quiet operation, lowering noise pollution.