BHP, Rio Tinto start trial of electric haul trucks at Jimblebar

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Global miner BHP BHP.AX said on Friday that it has taken delivery of two electric haul trucks to start a trial at its Jimblebar iron ore mine in Australia's Pilbara as a possible means of reducing diesel usage and greenhouse gas emissions.

In a partnership with miner Rio Tinto RIO.L and industrial equipment maker Caterpillar CAT.N, the trial aims to test the viability of battery-electric technology as an alternative to diesel usage in large-scale iron ore mining operations, BHP said in a statement.

Following the trial, the miners will separately determine progress towards scaled trials within their respective operations, BHP said.

"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," BHP's Western Australia Iron Ore Asset President Tim Day said.

"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.