Diversified miner Rio Tinto has entered into a collaboration with China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) to trial battery swap technology for electric haul trucks at its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine, in Mongolia.

The partnership aims to demonstrate a new, innovative approach to reducing emissions and improving operational efficiency in mining.

The technology, which has been successfully applied to haul trucks in mining operations across China, allows for the rapid swapping of battery packs, enabling vehicles to continue operating without lengthy downtime for recharging at static charging stations.

The two-year project at Oyu Tolgoi will involve eight electric haul trucks with a 91-t payload, 13 high-capacity batteries (800 kWh), and a robotic battery swap and charging station. The trucks will operate in non-production activities at the mine, including tailings dam rehabilitation and topsoil movement.

Rio Tinto chief decarbonisation officer Jonathon McCarthy explained that the project will explore applications of battery swap technology that could offer more flexibility and less downtime compared with traditional static charging systems, complementing the group's broader electrification efforts, including its plans for ultra-class mining haul trucks in the Pilbara.

The initiative at Oyu Tolgoi aligns with Rio Tinto’s commitment to reaching net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050. The company believes that innovations, such as the battery swap technology, can play a key role in achieving these ambitious decarbonisation goals.

SPIC chairperson Han Zhiwei said that, through collaboration with Rio Tinto, the firm is bringing leading green transportation innovations to the international market, showcasing the strength of Chinese enterprises in the field of green technology innovation.

"We hope our low-carbon technologies will assist Rio Tinto in achieving its decarbonisation targets, and we look forward to continued cooperation between both parties to jointly promote the application of green energy.”

The trucks, which will be operated and maintained by Oyu Tolgoi personnel, are expected to have a battery life of up to eight hours, depending on the workload. The battery swap process itself takes about seven minutes, significantly reducing downtime and increasing operational efficiency. The first truck is set to arrive at Oyu Tolgoi later this year, with the remaining seven trucks and the battery swap infrastructure expected to be fully operational by mid-2025.

Rio Tinto currently operates around 700 haul trucks globally, with 100 classified as small or medium class (100- to 200-t payload). The Oyu Tolgoi trial is part of Rio Tinto's broader strategy to explore and implement innovative, sustainable technologies in its global operations, helping to drive progress toward a low-carbon future for the mining industry.