INSIGHT •
EMPOWERING SA MINES
TO ADOPT ELECTRIFICATION
By Erik Pretorius , Business Line Mining Large and Strategic Projects global lead , ABB
Decarbonising the mining industry requires a purposeful methodology combined with a suite of solutions . This is especially important in countries such as South Africa where the considerations to convert to sustainable mining and factor in ‘ allelectric ’ mines are equally important .
ABB eMine™ has a strong automation and digital portfolio in which aspects such as energy management , peak demand management and excellence in operational management are addressed , all to better manage the way the mining industry uses electricity .
The solution also focuses on supplying power to mining vehicles , with fit-for-purpose electrification to achieve the most optimised electrified process . In addition , the solution integrates with ABB Ability™ applications to plan , monitor and control processes to optimise operations and energy usage .
A key component of keeping the all-electric mine running is ensuring that the equipment performs when required and that trucks can charge when they need to . ABB provides charging station solutions to meet the needs of modern mining operations and interface with all vehicles . ABB eMine™ FastCharge is vehicle type and OEM agnostic in that it supports an interoperable approach based on proven standards to provide any solution needed to charge battery electric vehicles ( BEVs ).
Our automation and digital portfolio empowers miners to not only consider , but to succeed , in their ‘ all-electric ’ ambitions despite the shortage of electricity in the region . The eMine solution consists of a broad portfolio of integrated electrification and automation solutions and takes on a different priority or definition in the respective regions globally .
In regions where underground mining is prominent , the company ’ s FastCharge solutions receive more interest and traction , while its digital offering in the space of Short Interval Control ( SIC ) has completely changed the efficiency with which underground operations are managed .
ABB
Erik Pretorius , Business Line Mining Large and Strategic Projects global lead , ABB .
greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by up to 80 % along those routes where the technology can be implemented .
Near the town of Princeton in southern British Columbia , the company delivered a complete open-pit trolley-assist solution to Copper Mountain Mining Corporation . The mine produces over 41 000 metric tons of copper equivalent a year .
This is the first mining Trolley Assist solution that has been installed in North America in decades . Despite its cold climate , it is indicative of the region ’ s recent move toward mine electrification . Additionally , each truck is fitted with a pantograph to receive external electric power . ABB was responsible for the off-truck Trolley Assist infrastructure and provided engineering , project management , equipment supply , system commissioning and construction management .
Interest in our Trolley Assist solutions is rapidly increasing in countries such as Canada and Australia . Generally , ABB eMine is most certainly living up to the expectation we had and conforms to the unique challenges that we find globally .
Mines where the company has begun providing its eMine solutions include the Boliden Aitik Copper Mine 100km above the Arctic Circle in Sweden . The mine ’ s hybrid trucks with on-board electrical systems are attached to a trolley line , leading to significant reductions in CO 2 and improved fuel economy . The lane is ~ 700m and is expected to save ~ 830m 3 diesel a year .
This infrastructure will ultimately enable Boliden to carry up to 70 million tons of rock every year at the mine and reduce its
A phased approach enables mines to immediately lower carbon footprints with a limited upfront capital investment , while simultaneously advancing progressively as technology becomes more mature , scalable and cost-effective . www . africanmining . co . za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • July 2023 • 45