WORLD PROSPECTS
Epiroc battery LHD bound for El Teniente
In an interview with Codelco managers back in July 2020 , the Chilean copper mining giant told IM that it was planning to trial an Epiroc ST14 Battery LHD . While the delivery of the machine was delayed due to COVID-19 and other operational reasons , the company recently stated that the unit will soon begin its pilot program at the underground El Teniente copper mine . The company has also told IM that it is looking at battery electric truck options for use underground in El Teniente .
Codelco already has extensive experience since 2019 with a Komatsu 18HD 18 t hybrid drive LHD which allowed it to validate the positive business case of going down the electric route and to understand what is necessary in terms of operational adaptations for an eventual transition to electric mining . But this ST14 Battery is its first ( and South America ’ s first ) all electric loader . It offers 100 % reduction of direct emissions , a 70 % reduction in operating costs , a temperature reduction in working areas of 5 ° C and a significant reduction in noise pollution and vibration .
The company stated at the time : “ We foresee interesting opportunities and value by utilising fully electric equipment in our underground operations both current and planned . The adoption of this technology will help us create a better and safer work environment but will also be economically attractive and we hope will also increase our productivity levels in our underground mines . During the coming years , an important volume of production and support equipment will be required for our main underground operations as older fleets are replaced . Therefore , it is a great time for us to make these moves as we are open and willing to test and validate new equipment to identify the best business scenarios prior the scale up of these technologies at our operations .”
El Teniente is a dynamic and growing operation . Together with the Andes Norte project , the Diamante and Andesita projects make up the new project portfolio at El Teniente , an initiative that will allow Codelco to replace sectors of the deposit that are in the process of depletion and extend their productive life by 50 years , maintaining production levels at around 460,000 t of fine copper per year .
While the pandemic has slowed progress , by end-2021 , Codelco had completed 72 % of Andes Norte , 16 % of Diamante and 11 % of Andesita . These have the broad strategy of the gradual deepening of the operation to 300 m below current levels with a total investment of $ 3.2 billion . The new projects have reserves of approximately 2 billion tons of ore , with an average copper grade of 0.86 % and 220 parts per million of molybdenum . Along with Chuquicamata Underground , these are the operations that will see the rollout of South America ’ s largest electric and autonomous underground mining fleets . www . codelco . com ; www . epiroc . com
Eldorado begins BEV journey with Normet SmartDrive
Eldorado Gold ’ s underground mining batteryelectric vehicle journey is set to begin this month , with the company imminently awaiting the arrival of a Normet SmartDrive concrete transportation vehicle at its Efemçukuru gold mine .
The company has reviewed the potential for the use of battery-electric vehicles at its Lamaque underground gold mine in Canada in the past , but this is the first official trial of zero emission mobile equipment the company will conduct . This aligns with the company ’ s recently announced target of mitigating GHG emissions by 30 %, from 2020 levels , by 2030 on a ‘ business as usual ’ basis ; equal to approximately 65,000 t of carbon dioxide equivalent . To achieve this target Eldorado is focused on pursuing decarbonisation through four key pathways including : measuring and monitoring ; operational efficiencies and continuous improvement ; technologies , processes and energy generation ; and energy procurement and strategy .
Set to arrive at the mine , in Izmir Province , western Turkey , at the end of the month , the Normet Utimec MF 500 SD transmixer will be tested in a combination of ramp and flat drifts over the latter part of April .
Efemçukuru , a high-grade epithermal deposit , will provide a good test for the machine . While reasonably shallow in terms of depth , the narrowvein mine has four declines ( SOS , MOS , NOS and KBNW ), each covering approximately 400 m of strike extent . These declines have 15 % inclination , while flat drifts with inclinations ranging from 0- 5 % will provide a good platform for overall speed .
A spokesperson for the gold miner told IM that the machine , which has already been purchased , will be tested against assumptions provided by the manufacturer for rates of charging and discharging . The machine is then intended to be used in an operational capacity .
“ Battery charging rates will be tested for charging from the existing grid , from a quick charging station and from downhill braking ,” the team leading the project said . “ Moreover , the battery usage rate will be tested for driving in uphill ( 15 %) and flat ( 0-5 %) galleries , against assumptions .”
Testing will also involve the comparison of
performance of both battery-electric and diesel machines in uphill tramming , with the company expecting the battery-electric transmixer to outperform the diesel-equivalent in these head-tohead tests due to the machine ’ s high torque .
The Utimec MF 500 Transmixer SD ( pictured here at Normet ’ s outdoor test track at its Iisalmi factory ) has a 4.4 m3 concrete carrying capacity , and comes with a combined power rating of 200 kW alongside a maximum tramming speed of 20 km / h .
Normet says the machine is designed for fast and safe concrete transportation in underground mines and tunnels where the tramming height is at least 2.4 m . The concrete drum rotation is electrically controlled and the speed ranges between 0-13 rpm .
Tested at both the Normet factory and the First Quantum polymetallic Pyhäsalmi mine in Finland , the MF Transmixer 500 SD has displayed a payback period of 2-3 years based on the machine completing a two-hour cycle that involves a 3 km journey on a 1:7 decline running at 15 km / h with the bowl rotating , one hour of unloading with the bowl rotating at 15 kW , and an uphill unloaded haul of 3 km at 10 km / h with no bowl rotation .
Eldorado said the MF Transmixer 500 SD will be at the mine site shortly , with training coordinated by Normet taking place in April ahead of the trial . www . normet . com ; www . eldoradogold . com
4 International Mining | APRIL 2022