CATL & BHP announce development cooperation

The aim of the cooperation is to explore opportunities to develop batteries for mining and locomotives, as well as fast charging infrastructure, and to look at energy storage systems and battery recycling options for BHP's mining applications.

According to the partners, the cooperation will play a role in BHP’s long-term goal of achieving net-zero operations in terms of greenhouse gases by 2050. They write that the partnership will not only identify pathways for electrication among BHP’s mining operations, but consider a circular economy “by enhancing battery recycling processes, especially leveraging BHP’s copper operations, establishing more sustainable value chains within the mining sector.”

“These important relationships are further steps towards BHP meeting our decarbonisation ambitions for our operations and help drive transformative change within the global resources industry,” said Rashpal Bhatti, BHP Chief Commercial Officer. “CATL is a leader in their field and at the cutting-edge of what’s possible in battery technology, energy storage and battery recycling. By joining forces with industry leaders like CATL, we are seeking solutions to help shape a more productive and more sustainable resources industry of the future.”

“We are excited to collaborate with BHP, a global leader sharing our commitment to driving the energy transition towards a zero-carbon future,” said Tan Libin, head of overseas business of CATL. “Together with forward-thinking mining companies like BHP, we aim to demonstrate how advanced battery technologies can decarbonize mining operations, logistics, and product delivery, accelerating a sustainable, efficient future while creating long-term value and transforming the global resources industry through innovation.”

BHP has been gearing towards vehicle electrification in its commercial vehicles for some time, having formed another electrification alliance in 2021 together with Komatsu in the field of mining trucks. Just a few weeks later, Tritium announced that it had adapted DC chargers for use in mining operations, for which the first unit was installed at a BHP facility in Queensland, Australia.

By 2022, BHP had ordered additional mining vehicles from Sandvik, as well as announcing that by 2023, the company’s mining trucks in Chile would be electrified.

catl.com