• TECHNOLOGY
HOW IS AFRICA FARING
IN THE BEV RACE ? PART 1
By Sharyn Macnamara
BEV ’ s ( Battery Electric Vehicles ) are more than just a hot topic in mining , they are key to sustainability and the industry drive to NET zero , and certainly one of the biggest operational and business challenges on the mining agenda , both globally and locally . African Mining brings you Part 1 of its series on How is Africa faring in the BEV race ?
In March 2022 Sharyn Macnamara met with MEMSA , the CSIR Mining Cluster and two of South Africa ’ s leading OEMs ( Original Equipment Manufacturers ) in the manufacture of mining equipment – also MEMSA members – to discuss the BEV development trajectory and uptake thereof in Africa , and what this means for health and safety targets , enhanced efficiencies and productivity , and achieving sustainability goals for the mine of the future . In Part 1 we look at the BEV journey in Africa and industry support , in particular .
The journey “ The BEV journey in the South African mining industry started in the 1980s in underground rail bound equipment . Some of the biggest hurdles at the time , and through the early stages of development , were longevity of battery life , bulkiness of the battery , as well as long charging times , together with health and safety risks then . As the technology has progressed , more of our members have started producing these vehicles based on their own inhouse R & D ( Research and Development ) with great success and have since moved over to the benefits of using lithium-ion batteries ,” said Lehlohonolo Molloyi , CEO of MEMSA .
Molloyi noted , “ I must give credit to those of our members who have pushed the envelope on EV technology , with access to very little funding and having done their own internal R & D to get to a point where they have developed and marketed top of the range BEVs to Africa and beyond , not to mention the goodwill of the South African mining companies that have been willing to allow our members to test their prototypes on site in the past , in order to enable the opportunity to showcase this technology .”
As part of the Mandela Mining Precinct ( MMP ) and the South African Mining Extraction Research Development and Innovation ( SAMERDI ), MEMSA was recently involved in a new and exciting development for underground mining in South Africa . Molloyi highlighted the most recent mine assistance received , whereby the MMP , through the CSIR and Minerals Council South Africa , has signed an agreement with Royal Bafokeng Platinum ( RBPlat ) to establish a test mine at its Maseve Mine . This establishment will assist in fast tracking development in the BEV space in Africa , create visibility for the SAMERDI R & D strategy and deliver value to mining companies , OEMs and other stakeholders . 1
Challenges for MEMSA Molloyi cited three particular challenges facing the pace of development in the EV race locally : Firstly , the lack of stable electricity supply and the rising cost thereof for the manufacture of the BEVs ; secondly the lack of funding of ongoing R & D , and thirdly battery capacity required for larger mining vehicles , such as LHDs .
He pointed out that the government gazetted amendments exempting self-generation facilities , with a generation capacity of no more than 100MW , from the requirement to obtain a generation licence , have eased this electricity crisis for some . However , the impact of the instability and rising cost of electricity still negatively affects MEMSA OEMs in their endeavours to manufacture competitively .
The lack of funding and delay in access to grants available for R & D also slows down the development of innovative technology within the industry . MEMSA members have only got this far through their own self-funded R & D to date . The speed of development in South Africa would be faster if funding was more readily available . MEMSA is therefore looking at ways of assisting members to fast-track the development of mining innovations . Molloyi is hopeful that the SAMERDI committee will assist in this regard going forward .
MEMSA
Lehlohonolo Molloyi , CEO of MEMSA .
28 • African Mining • July 2022
Greater battery capacity is required for the larger EVs being developed at the moment , as the capacity is directly linked to the weight of , and the kind of work an EV does . This poses a very real challenge in the pace of development in this area , but once again , Molloyi is hopeful that potential solutions lie in the research
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