BHP, Rio Tinto on fast track with electric haul trucks

Australia

PILBARA, May 28, 2024 – Mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto will collaborate to fast-track trials of electric haul trucks, the two companies announced on Monday.

The trucks, built by Komatsu and Caterpillar, will be trialled at large-scale iron ore mines in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

Ongoing testing, development and refinement of truck and battery design is anticipated with each manufacturer, the companies said.

Rio Tinto’s iron ore CEO, Simon Trott, hailed the collaboration as “bring[ing] together two leading global miners with two of the world’s biggest manufacturers of haul trucks to work on solving the critical challenge of zero-emissions haulage.”

“Testing two types of battery-electric haul trucks in Pilbara conditions will provide better data, and by combining our efforts with BHP we will accelerate learning,” he said.

Meanwhile, BHP president for Australia Geraldine Slattery said replacing diesel fuel would require “a whole new operational ecosystem to surround the fleet.”

“We need to address the way we plan our mines, operate our haulage networks, and consider the additional safety and operational considerations that these changes will bring.”

Photo courtesy of Caterpillar.