Rio Tinto and BHP have collaborated for Australia’s first Cat® 793 XE Early Learner battery-electric haul trucks to test whether large-scale mining can realistically shift away from diesel. The two trucks have arrived at BHP’s Jimblebar mine, where both companies will run trials alongside Caterpillar to see how the technology performs under real operating conditions.
Image source: Businesswire
Rather than a straightforward equipment demo, the trial is expected to pressure-test everything that surrounds electric haulage — charging systems, power supply, operational planning and even workforce routines. With haulage representing one of the hardest parts of mining to decarbonise, both miners want firsthand insight into what an electric fleet would demand at scale.
BHP Western Australia Iron Ore Asset President Tim Day said, “Powering up our first battery-electric haul trucks in the Pilbara is an important step forward on the mining industry’s road to decarbonisation.
“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.”
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Rio Tinto, which runs 18 iron ore mines across the region, sees the collaboration as part of a much longer process of dismantling its dependency on diesel. Rio Tinto Iron Ore Pilbara Mines Managing Director Andrew Wilson said, “Decarbonising Rio Tinto’s fleet across our 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.
“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.”
For Caterpillar, the Pilbara trial is a major proving ground for its electric haulage program. Caterpillar Inc. Resource Industries Sales Services and Technology Senior Vice President Marc Cameron said:
“The arrival of the Early Learner trucks in the Pilbara marks a significant milestone in the journey toward a more sustainable future.
“By working side by side with our customers, we’re delivering solutions to help them solve their toughest challenges while learning together each step of the way. 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.”
Both miners will later decide independently how far they can expand the technology across their fleets, but the Jimblebar trials mark one of the clearest signals yet that heavy haulage in the Pilbara is beginning to move toward an electric future.
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