Fortescue Orders Record-Breaking Fleet of Green Mining Trucks from China
Fortescue Signs Landmark Deal with XCMG for 200 Battery-Electric Haul Trucks to Advance Net-Zero Mining
Fortescue, the global iron-ore giant, has placed China’s largest-ever export order for green mining equipment, signing a supply agreement with XCMG Machinery for 150 to 200 battery-electric haul trucks.
The 240-tonne vehicles will make up nearly half of Fortescue’s future heavy-haul fleet and will be deployed at its Pilbara iron-ore operations in Western Australia. The move marks a major step toward the company’s ambitious goal of eliminating fossil fuels from all land-based operations by 2030.
Dual-Supplier Strategy to Accelerate Decarbonisation
Under the agreement, XCMG is expected to deliver up to half of Fortescue’s planned fleet of 300 to 400 zero-emission trucks, with phased deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2030.
The deal follows an earlier contract signed in November 2024, when XCMG secured its then-largest order for green mining equipment outside China.
To ensure flexibility and speed in fleet transition, Fortescue will also partner with Liebherr, which will supply the remaining trucks and a fleet of electric excavators.
Liebherr’s equipment will be manufactured in the United States, while Fortescue Zero—the company’s clean energy division—will focus on developing and integrating advanced power systems to optimise truck performance in the demanding Pilbara environment.
Global Milestone for Green Mining
The signing ceremony was held in Beijing between XCMG chairperson Yang Dongsheng and Fortescue executive chairperson Dr Andrew Forrest. The agreement was formally announced in New York during the United Nations General Assembly, highlighting its significance on the global stage.
Dr Forrest emphasised that the investment in green technology will not only cut emissions but also boost profitability:
“Technology is driving Fortescue to a more profitable Real Zero future. We will prove that profits go up when emissions go down.”
This landmark deal underscores the mining industry’s accelerating shift toward sustainable, zero-emission operations, setting a new benchmark for large-scale adoption of green heavy machinery.
