Australia's big miners race to deploy emissions-free trucks

Fortescue, BHP and Rio Tinto shift focus from automation to decarbonization

Mining industry haul trucks, some of which can carry over 200 tons, currently run largely on diesel. (Photo courtesy of Fortescue)

FUMI MATSUMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

September 15, 2021 05:03 JST

SYDNEY -- As pressure builds on the carbon-intensive mining industry to slash emissions, leading Australian players are rushing to decarbonize their truck fleet using a range of options from hydrogen to battery-powered vehicles.

Fortescue Metals Group in June designed and built a hydrogen-powered haul truck -- "the first of its kind in the world," said Julie Shuttleworth, CEO of green technology unit Fortescue Future Industries. Site tests are scheduled to begin by June 2023.