BHP moves into greener shipping amid cleaner transport ventures intensifying globally

This audio is brought to you by Astec Industries, a Global Leader in manufacturing equipment for infrastructure, including asphalt production, construction, and material processing, driving innovation and sustainability. In fewer than three years, Major Johannesburg Stock Exchange-secondary listed mining giant BHP will in be shipping ore from Australia to Asia in a greener manner amid intensification of transportation greening across the world. Living up to its stated purpose of helping to build a better world, the Melbourne-headquartered BHP, founded as Broken Hill Proprietary as long ago as 1885, has signed contracts with the Shanghai-headquartered COSCO Shipping Bulk colossus for the initial charter of two green ammonia dual-fuelled Newcastlemax bulk carriers, which will transport iron-ore from Western Australia to Northeast Asia from 2028. Interestingly, this green ammonia initiative is emerging at a time when South Africa's own $5.8-billion Hive Hydrogen Coega Green Ammonia Project at Nelson Mandela Bay, in the Eastern Cape, is working hard to give the lead in low-cost ammonia output from Nelson Mandela Bay, in the Eastern Cape. Globally, greening strides are continuing, even in the US, where the Senate's passing of its version of the One Big Beautiful Bill has extended the clean hydrogen tax credits, which had the US-based Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association declaring the outcome as "a significant win for our sector". Simultaneously, Canada's Ballard has announced the signing of a new supply agreement with California rail operator Sierra Northern Railway for the supply this year of 1.5 MW of green hydrogen fuel cell engines. Also, French multinational rolling stock manufacturer Alstom, which has strong South African ties, has opened its Delta hydrogen fuel cell megafactory in Aix-en-Provence, accelerating Europe's zero-emission mobility future and scaling up hydrogen infrastructure. DHL Freight, along with BMW, last month put two trucks into real operation as part of the green hydrogen-based H2Haul project. Funded by the EU's Clean Hydrogen Partnership, the H2Haul project is testing and researching hydrogen trucks with fuel cell drivetrains under realistic conditions. The project is intended to pave the way for the commercialisation of fuel cell trucks in Europe. On June 18, Toyota Motor Europe and VDL Groep announced a collaboration to integrate Toyota's fuel cell system into heavy-duty trucks. Following the first demonstration truck, Toyota has now deployed four more vehicles on its logistics routes across Belgium (Diest), France (Lille), Germany (Cologne), and the Netherlands (Rotterdam and Weesp). MINERALS SHIPPING When run on lower or low to zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions green ammonia, ships are capable of reducing GHG emissions by up to 95% on a per-voyage basis compared with a conventionally fuelled voyage. The BHP-COSCO advance towards a decarbonised shipping future is poised to strengthen the demand for lower or low to zero GHG emissions marine fuels, which is important in the effort to scale up production of alternative fuels. As one of the world's largest dry bulk charterers, BHP sees this as an opportunity to help establish a pathway for green ammonia to be a marine fuel for a globally significant industry where emissions can be difficult to abate. "Our tender process for the design and charter of ammonia dual-fuelled bulk carriers has brought together shipowners, fuel suppliers, engine-makers, and regulatory bodies from around the world," BHP VP maritime and supply chain excellence Emma Roberts stated in a release to Mining Weekly. The deal boosts the transition to net zero led by the 'Australia-China Green Shipping Corridor' aspiration. "Ammonia is one of the most promising marine fuels with zero-carbon potential. These vessels will stand at the forefront of technological and environmental advancement," said COSCO shipping VP Ji Lin. "Looking ahead, COSCO Shipping will continue to work closel...