PERTH, April 28, 2026, 04:08 AWST
- BHP’s plan to roll out two battery-electric locomotives in Western Australia has hit a snag, as rail consultation rules have caused delays, The Australian reported.
- The timing is key for BHP, which has been looking to reduce diesel consumption throughout its Pilbara iron ore rail network—a major source of cash for the company.
- Fortescue is putting similar locomotives through their paces, but Rio Tinto has pulled back, pausing its project as doubts about battery viability surfaced.
BHP Group Ltd’s rollout of battery-electric locomotives in the Pilbara has hit delays, with safety protocols and union consultations complicating the start of operations for two new trains, The Australian reported on Monday. Instead of moving ahead as planned, the battery-powered units—designed to run without diesel—are still waiting to begin live trials on BHP’s iron ore lines connecting its mines to Port Hedland.
BHP is under pressure right now to demonstrate a technology aiming to clean up a particularly carbon-heavy segment of its iron ore logistics, all while keeping shipments moving out of Western Australia. Back in 2022, the company pointed out that converting its entire WA iron ore locomotive fleet—over 180 in total—to battery-electric could chop diesel-related carbon emissions by roughly 30% each year.
The timing comes right after BHP singled out its Western Australia Iron Ore unit as a bright spot. On April 22, Chief Executive Mike Henry pointed to record production at WAIO in an operational review, and said copper output should end up in the upper half of the group’s full-year guidance range.
The Australian attributes the commissioning holdup to regulations mandating that rail operators consult with impacted workers and unions before altering systems or equipment. The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator states it’s nearly finished with new guidance for the Rail Safety National Law, detailing which parties need to be consulted and how responses should be sought.
BHP told The Australian it’s “working to get” its battery-electric locomotives into trial runs, adding that commissioning is still needed before the technology can be safely used across its rail network. When asked about union issues and regulatory holdups behind the delay, the company wouldn’t comment, according to the newspaper. The Australian
Industry sentiment was clear. Aaron Morey, chief executive of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA, told The Australian that resources companies bringing in new technology need support instead of facing what he described as “onerous and unnecessary red tape.” The Australian
BHP took delivery of two Wabtec-built locomotives in Port Hedland back in November, both fitted with 7 megawatt-hour batteries and regenerative braking that pushes power back into the battery on downhill runs. At the time, Tim Day, who heads BHP’s WA iron ore assets, said the company wanted to see how much the trial could cut diesel use and emissions.
Fortescue Ltd isn’t waiting around. Back in February, the company rolled out two battery-electric locomotives, projecting they’ll trim diesel consumption by about 1 million litres each year—though that’s still just a small slice of its overall diesel burn. Over at Rio Tinto, the other big Pilbara player, efforts on a similar front have been shelved for now, with the company citing inadequate battery technology for its current rail needs.
The rail issues come on the heels of a smoother commercial turn for BHP. The miner recently resolved its protracted dispute with China Mineral Resources Group, the iron ore purchasing arm backed by Beijing. “Quietly de-risks” is how eToro market analyst Josh Gilbert described the settlement to Reuters last week, noting BHP’s reliance on iron ore as the core profit driver for the broader company. Reuters
The electric rail trial faces a risk: it could drag on longer and cost more than expected. Battery trains are up against tough conditions—intense heat, heavy loads, unforgiving pit-to-port timetables. If performance falters, or consultations stall, or industrial action flares up, a larger-scale diesel replacement could be set back even further.
BHP isn’t stepping away from the technology just yet. The company plans to run track trials with the Pilbara locomotives after they’re safely commissioned, calling the initiative one piece of a bigger push to pilot lower-emissions systems throughout its iron ore business.
