BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty. Ltd. will take delivery of 14 SD70ACe/lc locomotives for use in mining operations in northwest Australia. Electro-Motive's SD70ACe/lc model is a derivative of the SD70ACe locomotive model sold in North America. The "lc" designation stands for "low clearance" to accommodate the loading and unloading equipment at the mine.

The SD70ACe/lc is powered by EMD's highly reliable 16-710 diesel engine, rated at 4,300 traction horsepower. The engine and cooling system have been specifically tuned to operate at the high ambient temperatures in the region (50oC) and for optimal fuel efficiency. The SD70ACe/lc employs an AC (Alternating Current) traction system to develop high wheel-rail traction for heavy haul service. These will be the first EMD AC traction locomotives built for use in the Australian Pilbara iron ore mining region.