Aurizon, which hauls coal and other bulk freight to the ports, will investigate whether Anglo’s own fuel cell and battery hybrid power unit technology used in its mining trucks could be adapted to trains.

Anglo, which operates coal mines in Queensland like the Dawson, Moranbah North and Grosvenor mines, said there was an urgent need to address climate change.

Corporate Australia has been rushing towards green hydrogen, which is still uncommercial, because of the need to reduce emissions as environmental issues continue to impact investment.

Last year, Aurizon said it was looking at the possibility of adopting electric trains. It was continuing research in that area with Australian universities and unnamed companies. 

Aurizon had also previously allocated $50 million to find low-carbon technologies for its trains including the development of battery and hydrogen-powered solutions.

Battery-powered trains already exist in parts of Europe and Bombardier, which manufactures trains for QR, has been making the new-age battery trains since 2018.  French company Alstom already has a hydrogen-powered train in operation, but this is passenger train, not freight.

Both companies are pushing to cut emissions and Anglo developed a green-hydrogen truck which is being trialled at a South African mine.

It was the first time the hydrogen technology had been tested outside the trucking fleet.

Aurizon managing director Andrew Harding said hydrogen offered enormous opportunity to decarbonise as well as improve competitiveness.

“This is especially true for bulk products underpinning the Australian economy including minerals, agricultural products and fertilisers, industrials and general greight.

“Zero-carbon hydrogen-powered trains would also significantly boost the current environmental benefits of transporting more of Australia’s bulk freight on rail.”

Anglo chief executive of Australian operations Tyler Mitchelson said the company had a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2040 and reduced Scope 3 emissions by 50 per cent.