First Cat battery-electric haul trucks land in the Pilbara

Australia’s first Cat 793 XE early learner battery-electric haul trucks have arrived at BHP’s (ASX: BHP) Jimblebar iron ore mine in the Pilbara, WA.

This marks the start of on-site testing, in collaboration with Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO), of Caterpillar’s battery-electric heavy haulage technology and a major step toward a more sustainable future in mining, designed to deliver zero exhaust emissions while maintaining productivity and performance.

Once safely commissioned, the trials will begin to test the viability of battery-electric technology as an alternative to diesel usage in large-scale iron ore mining operations. The trials will help inform the development of technology, processes, infrastructure and people required to support lower greenhouse gas emissions machines and mine sites of the future.

Following the joint trial, BHP and Rio Tinto will independently determine progress towards scaled trials within their respective operational environments.

BHP WA iron ore asset president Tim Day says replacing diesel isn’t just about changing energy sources, it’s about reimagining how we operate and creating the technologies, infrastructure and supply chains to transform mining operations.

“These trials will help us understand how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together — the battery technologies, generation and charging infrastructure, power management, as well as the supply chains to potentially deliver this at scale,” he said.

“A significant shift like this demands a strong commitment to research and development, coupled with collaboration across the industry. This is going to take time to get right, which is why trials like this one with Rio Tinto and Caterpillar are so critical.”

Rio Tinto iron ore Pilbara mines managing director Andrew Wilson says decarbonising the company’s fleet across its 18 Pilbara mines is a significant challenge.

“By exploring solutions like this to reduce emissions, we hope that, over time, we will be able to move away from diesel,” he said.

“No single company can achieve zero emissions haulage on its own. It takes the whole industry working together. That’s why we’re working with BHP and Caterpillar to develop new solutions that will reduce emissions in mining and help us reach our net zero commitments.”

Caterpillar resource industries sales services and technology senior vice president Marc Cameron says the company is delivering solutions to help customers solve their toughest challenges.

“This collaboration is key to accelerating innovation and shaping the next generation of mining technology, and we’re excited to be on this journey together with our early learner customers,” he said.

Ongoing testing and development throughout this trial will enable learning toward future deployment. This will inform the approach for testing a larger number of haul trucks and the potential integration of battery-electric haul truck fleets into each company’s operations.