Mining giant BHP has halted or delayed billions of dollars in renewable energy projects in its Western Australian iron ore operations, despite publicly committing to cutting emissions and telling its own board that any delays would risk its reputation.
A cache of internal documents, exclusively leaked to Four Corners and Guardian Australia, reveal how the miner publicly committed to aggressive decarbonisation, including a fleet of electric trucks and trains powered by solar and wind, but has reversed course.
BHP has now allocated zero funding to major renewable projects in the Pilbara until 2031, effectively leaving no clear pathway to achieve its net-zero goals.
In mid-2023, the board approved a critical AU$400-million solar farm and battery at the Jimblebar mine. However, management halted the project shortly after, citing cash prioritisation requirements.
The WA mines generate US$14.4 billion (AU$22 billion) in pre-tax profits and account for more than a third of BHP’s domestic emissions.
A subsequent AU$1.3-billion plan linking a 150-megawatt solar farm and two 90-megawatt wind farms was also put on the backburner. This decision coincided with BHP capitalising on a price drop for conventional diesel trucks, purchasing 62 new Caterpillar vehicles and locking in diesel use at Jimblebar until at least the late 2030s, and potentially 2041.
BHP told Four Corners that large-scale zero-emission haulage technology was “not yet ready to be deployed”, a claim its fierce rival Fortescue disputes as it pushes ahead with its own 2030 electrification targets.
That claim is also at odds with one of BHP’s own documents. As of late in 2025, BHP was still considering having electric trucks operations by 2029 at its yet-to-be built Ministers North mine in the Pilbara.
Internal memos reveal immense anxiety over public perception, with top Australian executive Geraldine Slattery previously warning the board that “slow emissions reduction progress” would carry “reputational impacts”.
Energy analysts say the delays mean BHP would not be on target to reach its net zero goal by 2050.
Tim Buckley, a former stock market analyst who now runs think tank Climate Energy Finance, said BHP would need to reduce emissions by around 3 per cent every year until 2050 to reach net zero.
