Cooperation between Chinese and Australian companies across the mining value chain is expanding beyond traditional iron ore trade into mine decarbonization, ore beneficiation, green steel and renewable energy applications, as the global mining industry accelerates its transition toward lower-carbon production.
At the recent Iron Ore and Open Pit Operators Conference 2026 (IOOP2026) held in Perth, Australian mining companies, research institutions and technology suppliers said cooperation between Chinese and Australian companies continues to expand into areas including renewable energy, mining equipment, mineral processing, research and overseas resource development.
Australia's Fortescue, which is among the companies advancing mine decarbonization through partnerships with Chinese companies, said Chinese companies are participating in multiple projects covering solar power, wind energy, battery energy storage and electrified mining equipment.
LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. is involved in Fortescue's solar projects, Envision Energy supplies wind turbines for its wind projects, BYD provides battery energy storage systems, and XCMG is cooperating with Fortescue to develop zero-emission mining equipment, including 240-tonne electric haul trucks.
Speaking at the IOOP2026, Fortescue's director of integrated operations Katie Charuga said the company is building a large-scale renewable energy network across its mines, railways and ports, while accelerating fleet electrification and applying artificial intelligence and digital technologies to improve operational efficiency.
She said Fortescue has already deployed electric excavators, electric drills and battery energy storage systems, and is testing electric haul trucks and locomotives, with the projects being developed together with global partners, including Chinese companies.
Jenny Selway, chief executive officer of the Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC), highlighted the importance of Australia-China cooperation in decarbonizing the iron and steel value chain.
"The two countries need to, and are working together to decarbonize the whole iron and steel value chain," Selway told Xinhua.
The transition toward greener steelmaking is also creating new opportunities for cooperation in ore upgrading and mineral processing technologies.
Weng Wubiao, operation manager for the Australia region at LONGi Magnet Co., Ltd., told Xinhua that declining ore grades at some Australian mines and growing demand for higher resource efficiency are increasing interest in ore beneficiation technologies.
He said the development of green steel is placing higher requirements on ore quality and resource efficiency, creating new opportunities for technologies that improve iron ore grade. LONGi has supplied magnetic separation equipment and solutions to Australian mining projects to help customers improve ore quality and resource utilization.
Shao Yuan, senior sales engineer at Shanghai Kminda Tech. Co., Ltd., told Xinhua that as mining companies seek to improve production efficiency and reduce operating costs, mining equipment is evolving toward more energy-efficient and productive solutions.
He said the company's High Frequency Multi-Deck Layer Stack Vibrating Fine Screen, which it is promoting in the Australian market, can reduce equipment footprint, material consumption and energy use while improving screening efficiency, helping lower customers' capital investment and operating costs.