World’s Largest Mining Company Signs Deal With Chinese Battery Giants to Try Electrify Fleet

The mining giant has signed deals with two Chinese manufacturers to introduce batteries to its heavy mining equipment and railway locomotives.

A coal train awaits loading at BHP Billiton's Mt Arthur coal mine in Muswellbrook, Australia. In October 2020, the CCP banned the import of Australian coal after former Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and former Prime Minister Scott Morrison publicly called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to launch an independent investigation into the origins of Covid-19. Ian Waldie/Getty Images

The world’s largest listed mining company, BHP, has announced preliminary deals with two of China’s largest battery manufacturers—CATL and BYD—to explore the electrification of its fleet of heavy mining equipment and transport operations, including locomotives, across the world.

The companies will explore developing batteries suitable for mining, including rapid charging infrastructure, as well push to better understand energy storage and battery recycling options.

BHP said in a statement that the collaboration will help advance moves towards developing a circular economy, and more sustainable value chains within the mining sector.

If successful, the collaboration offers the potential to cut BHP’s emissions.

The company aims to achieve net zero by 2050 and to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30 percent by FY2030 (from an FY2020 baseline). For FY2024, its emissions were 32 percent lower against that baseline.