Mining giants BHP (ASX:BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) have both announced – within days of each other – plans to accelerate the development of zero-emission haulage trucks with Komatsu.

BHP has become a founding member of Komatsu’s GHG Alliance, which aims to develop commercially viable zero-greenhouse gas emissions haul trucks.

And the company plans to operate one of the first batches of zero-emission trucks upon commercial release – all part of its plan to become a net-zero operator by 2050.

“Reducing vehicle emissions is key to our climate strategy, and we are thrilled to join with Komatsu and our peers in the global mining sector on real, tangible action to help accelerate our transition to a low carbon future,” COO Vandita Pant said.

The announcement comes days after BHP released plans to build two solar farms and a battery storage system to help power the Mt Keith and Leinster nickel operations and barely a week after it announced plans to supply nickel to Tesla.

And they ain’t the only big player in the game. Along with Codelco and Boliden, Rio has also announced a partnership with Komatsu to trial the equipment with the option to purchase some of the first trucks.

It’s not the first time the companies have partnered up. In 2008 they built the world’s largest Komatsu autonomous haulage fleet.

Notably, the GHG is investigating a concept for a haulage vehicle that can run on a variety of power sources – including battery and hydrogen.

Hydrogen-powered trucks could well and truly be viable. NPROXX is already developing a hydrogen fuel tank system that is designed to power the world’s largest mine haul truck at Anglo American’s Mogalakwena mine in South Africa.

NPROXX expects the vehicle to be operational in the second half of 2021.

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