WORLD PROSPECTS
Fortescue pivots to dual supply for battery mining trucks
As part of a partnership-led plan to accelerate industrial decarbonisation and build the lowest-cost 24 / 7 energy system, Fortescue has signed agreements with some of the world’ s most advanced green energy innovators: global leader in electric vehicles and in battery manufacturing and development, BYD; solar technology and manufacturing giant, LONGi; construction and mining equipment manufacturer, XCMG; and wind and energy storage leader, Envision Energy. Fortescue has also finalised the acquisition of Spanish renewable technology company Nabrawind.
These partnerships – announced in New York during the United Nations General Assembly – will not only enable Fortescue to electrify its Pilbara operations and deliver on its target of Real Zero by 2030, but also catalyse decarbonisation globally.
These agreements build on Fortescue’ s global innovation ecosystem – where European powerhouse Liebherr already plays a pivotal role in decarbonising Fortescue’ s mining fleet with the production of T 264 trucks in Virginia in the United States. They are underpinned by leading research and development through Fortescue Zero, which uses the Colorado Technology Hub in the United States, advanced technology collaborations with CSIRO in Australia, and its R & D centre at Oxford in the United Kingdom, to drive the innovations behind Fortescue’ s decarbonisation and future green technologies.
Together, these partnerships and hubs of innovation ensure Fortescue integrates the world’ s best technology into its operations and delivers its green energy operations at unmatched scale and cost, Fortescue says. The individual Heads of Agreements
4 signed will see BYD supply energy storage, LONGi supply its photovoltaic modules and solar technology, and Envision supply its advanced wind turbine and integrated energy solution technologies.
When it comes to battery-electric trucks, Fortescue says it will now leverage a dual supplier approach to accelerate the decarbonisation of its mining fleet, adding a new partnership with XCMG and building on its existing agreement with Liebherr to deliver the world’ s first large-scale deployment of battery-electric haul trucks, announced in September 2024.
Fortescue and XCMG have signed an agreement in which XCMG is expected to supply up to half of Fortescue’ s future fleet of 300 to 400 zero-emissions 240 t haul trucks, with phased deliveries planned from 2028 to 2030. This expands on the contract signed in November 2024 for batteryelectric ancillary mining equipment.
Liebherr, with its manufacturing facilities in the US, is expected to provide at a minimum the other half of the haul truck fleet and electric excavators under an amendment to the partnership announced in September 2024. This had envisaged Liebherr supplying up to 360 autonomous battery-electric T 264 trucks, containing a battery electric power system developed by Fortescue Zero.
Fortescue added:“ While XCMG and Liebherr will make Fortescue’ s battery electric trucks and other heavy mining equipment, Fortescue Zero will continue to focus on developing and integrating advanced power systems for Fortescue’ s fleet – including optimisation of batteryelectric truck performance in Pilbara conditions.”
Fortescue Executive Chairman and Founder, Dr Andrew Forrest AO, said:“ The world once benefited from open trade and cooperation – now it is divided. Fortescue
is showing that industry can help glue back that multilateral spirit, not through rhetoric but through practical alliances that prove heavy industry can follow a new path – one where profits rise as emissions fall. China is scaling and manufacturing green technologies at unprecedented speed and our partnerships give Fortescue access to that capability.”
He added:“ Meanwhile, through Nabrawind in Spain, Liebherr in Germany and the United States, Fortescue Zero in the United Kingdom, and Fortescue operations in the Pilbara in Western Australia, we are building a global R & D and production network. This is a truly multilateral collaboration that draws on the best ideas and manufacturing capacity to deliver the lowest cost energy and tackle climate change. By joining forces across continents, we are seizing the full extent of the decarbonisation opportunity and rebuilding the cooperation the world needs to address the climate crisis.” www. fortescue. com
Weir further expands its minesite reach with Fast2Mine buy
Weir has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Brazil-headquartered Fast2 Mine Tecnologia e Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda. Fast2Mine is a software provider to the mining industry, with a focus on mine management solutions( MMS) and is particularly known for its Mining Control fleet management system( FMS). The acquisition Weir said complements Micromine’ s existing suite of mine planning and mine control software.
Fast2Mine to date has been led in strategy and development by CEO and Founder Eder Griebeler. It told IM earlier this year:“ Over the last two years, the company has been expanding its operations and conquering strategic markets such as Australia, the United States, South Africa and Mexico, driving the digitalisation of mining at a global level. In Latin America, the company is the market leader in FMS in mining operations belonging to Tier 1 and Tier 2 large and medium mines.”
It added:“ Currently, its operational management and mine optimisation system, Mining Control, manages more than 80 operations around the world, monitoring more than 6,000 pieces of equipment and interacting daily with more than 20,000 users. Its clients include major global players such as Kinross, Norsk Hydro, Equinox, Alcoa, Ero Copper, Ravenswood Gold and Aura Minerals, which rely on Fast2Mine’ s technology to increase operational efficiency, productivity and reduce unit and absolute costs.”
Fast2Mine said its differential lies in the development of solutions that combine
International Mining | OCTOBER 2025