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The arena of pragmatic debate here is in the billion tonne / annum heavy haulage mineral resources sector. The few big players are keen to drop fossil fuels fo
by defrost 8mo ago
The arena of pragmatic debate here is in the billion tonne / annum heavy haulage mineral resources sector.
The few big players are keen to drop fossil fuels for many reasons and have had the capital to invest in meaningful R&D for the past decades which is still ongoing.
They also have an advantage of fixed controlled routes and total infrastructure control over extraction, haulage, and shipping sites; power, rail, roads, et al.
Recent notes from that edge include:
* Fortescue says Rio Tinto wrong about electric trucks, admits hydrogen tech at “very early stage” - https://reneweconomy.com.au/fortescue-says-rio-tinto-wrong-about-electric-trucks-admits-hydrogen-tech-at-very-early-stage/ https://reneweconomy.com.au/fortescue-says-rio-tinto-wrong-a...
* BHP and Rio Tinto welcome first Caterpillar battery-electric haul trucks to the Pilbara - https://www.riotinto.com/en/news/releases/2025/bhp-and-rio-tinto-welcome-first-caterpillar-battery-electric-haul-trucks-to-the-pilbara https://www.riotinto.com/en/news/releases/2025/bhp-and-rio-t...
and
* Andrew Forrest pivots on hydrogen trucks - https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/fortescue-and-rio-say-batteries-will-beat-hydrogen-for-trucks-20230614-p5dgj4 https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/fortescue-and-rio-say-b...
Forrest being one of the more pro-hydrogen billionaires in the mix.
FWiW I watch all the approaches with interest and expect to see more Red Queen racing before any trophies go out.