If you can’t grow it, you have to mine it

By Cummins Inc., Global Power Technology Leader

Oct 22, 2025

If you can’t grow it, you have to mine it

Key Points

How haul trucks and excavators move hundreds of tons in a single load.
What it takes to power mine sites located far from the grid.
Why mining is opening more doors for women across the industry.

What connects the trucks in remote mines to the phones in our pockets?

Guilherme shows Kim how copper, iron, and other essential minerals fuel not only machinery but also the digital world we live in. From electric vehicles to data centers, mining plays a central role in the systems we rely on every day.

He shares what it’s like to stand beside a 400-ton truck, how massive mine sites operate like cities, and why copper remains critical to AI expansion. With firsthand stories from Peru and insights from his time at Cummins, Guilherme brings the mining industry into focus.

This conversation reveals how power begins long before the plug and how Cummins contributes from the ground up.

Watch

Additional Resources

Timestamps

(00:00) This is Power Onward
(01:15) Why the mining image in your head is outdated
(02:13) The childhood toy that sparked a mining career
(03:37) How mining connects to everything we use daily
(04:13) How big are haul trucks, really?
(08:08) How Cummins supports both mining and data centers
(10:09) A haul truck built entirely by women
(11:16) What’s next for cleaner mining technology
(13:05) How off-grid mine sites stay powered with Cummins
(15:52) Visualizing the QSK95 engine
(17:27) Life on a 10-days-in, 10-days-out schedule
(19:40) What 190 gallons of fuel per hour looks like
(20:21) How one engine contains 16 RAM truck engines

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Transcript

Episode transcript

For more episodes, check out cummins.com/podcast. Want to join us on our mission towards smarter, cleaner power? Check out cummins.com/careers to explore opportunities.  

Author Profiles

Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is committed to powering a more prosperous world. Since 1919, we have delivered innovative solutions that move people, goods and economies forward. Our five business segments—Engine, Components, Distribution, Power Systems and Accelera™ by Cummins—offer a broad portfolio, including advanced diesel, alternative fuel, electric and hybrid powertrains; integrated power generation systems; critical components such as aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls, transmissions, axles and brakes; and zero-emissions technologies like battery and electric powertrain systems and electrolyzers. With a global footprint, deep technical expertise and an extensive service network, we deliver dependable, cutting-edge solutions tailored to our customers’ needs, supporting them through the energy transition with our Destination Zero strategy. We create value for customers, investors and employees and strengthen communities through our corporate responsibility pillars: education, equality of opportunity and environment. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, Cummins employs approximately 70,000 people worldwide and earned $3.9 billion on $34.1 billion in sales in 2024.

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