Rio Tinto tests battery-electric haul trucks in Pilbara collaboration, shares in focus for mining decarbonization push

By Christina Vogel, Background & Management desk. Reviewed prior to publication on 2026-06-23, 17:28.

Rio Tinto (GB0007188757) is stepping up its decarbonization efforts in heavy mining equipment. In Western Australia’s Pilbara region, the group is taking part in an industry-first trial of battery-electric haul trucks alongside BHP and Caterpillar, underscoring the strategic importance of lower-carbon operations for one of the world’s largest iron ore exporters on the London market.

What Rio Tinto announced

BHP, Rio Tinto and Caterpillar have launched a trial of two Cat 793 XE Early Learner battery-electric haul trucks at a mine-site demonstration in Western Australia’s Pilbara, according to a company statement from Rio Tinto’s website. Rio Tinto corporate overview and news section The trucks are being tested at BHP’s Jimblebar iron ore mine over several months to evaluate performance, reliability and suitability for large-scale deployment in iron ore operations.

The collaboration brings together two of the sector’s largest producers, Rio Tinto and BHP, with Caterpillar as the equipment supplier, reflecting a shared push to reduce diesel consumption in heavy haulage fleets. Both miners are major constituents of global resources benchmarks and peers in iron ore alongside groups such as Vale in Brazil, highlighting the broader sector relevance of this trial.

Analyst view on Rio Tinto shares

On the equity side, Rio Tinto’s London-listed shares remain widely followed by institutional and retail investors, with data providers such as Hargreaves Lansdown citing a market capitalization of roughly £122 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio around the mid-teens. Hargreaves Lansdown share data for Rio Tinto The same dataset indicates a dividend yield near 4 percent, with a dividend of £1.918 per share having gone ex-dividend on 5 March 2026 and a payment date of 16 April 2026.

Australian investors track the group through Rio Tinto Limited on the ASX, where the shares recently traded around A$176, roughly 7 percent higher than a week earlier but still below the 12-month high of about A$194, according to Intelligent Investor figures. Intelligent Investor snapshot on Rio Tinto Limited That places Rio Tinto alongside BHP in the upper tier of global diversified miners by market value, anchored in the FTSE and ASX indices.

How Rio Tinto makes its money

Rio Tinto’s business model rests on four core product groups: iron ore, aluminum, copper and other minerals, with iron ore from its Pilbara operations forming the largest earnings contributor. Rio Tinto corporate overview and news section The group explores, develops and operates mines and processing facilities across several continents, supplying steelmakers, automotive companies and manufacturers of packaging and construction materials.

Where the stock trades today

The Rio Tinto shares (GB0007188757) trade in London under the ticker RIO, with recent price data from Hargreaves Lansdown showing levels around 7,463 pence and a market capitalization of about £122 billion as of 2026-03-05, 16:40 London time. Hargreaves Lansdown share data for Rio Tinto

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, investment recommendation or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument. Historical data and analyst assessments are no guarantee of future performance. Investors should conduct their own research and, where appropriate, seek professional advice before making investment decisions.