BATTERY AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Kennecott BEV fleet expanding
Rio Tinto is progressing its mobile equipment electrification move at the Kennecott underground operation near Salt Lake City , Utah , having transitioned from using Sandvik Mining & Rock Solutions battery-electric loaders and trucks in a proof of concept to commercially deploying Sandvik battery-electric TH550B trucks and a Sandvik LH518iB loader .
Just last year , Rio Tinto approved $ 498 million of funding to deliver underground development and infrastructure for an area known as the North Rim Skarn ( NRS ). Production from the NRS is due to commence this year and is expected to ramp up over two years , to deliver around 70,000 t of additional mined copper over the next 10 years alongside open-pit operations at Kennecott .
This followed a September 2022 announcement where Rio Tinto approved development capital totalling $ 55 million to start underground mining in an area known as the Lower Commercial Skarn ( LCS ) at Kennecott . Underground mining within LCS started in February 2023 and is expected to deliver a total of around 30,000 tonnes of additional mined copper through the period to 2028 .
These two investments will support Kennecott in building a worldclass underground mine which will leverage BEV technology , following a trial with Sandvik equipment in 2022 involving an LH518B loader and
Z50 truck .
The first LH518iB loader in North America has recently been delivered to site , with the automation-capable vehicle equipped with Sandvik ’ s patented self-swapping battery system , including the AutoSwap and AutoConnect functions , to minimise infrastructure needs and enable the loader to return to operation significantly sooner than ‘ fast-charge ’ mining BEVs , Sandvik claims .
Since launching the vehicle in March 2023 , Sandvik has confirmed orders or made deliveries of the LH518iB to operations owned by LKAB , Boliden , Torex Gold , Foran Mining , Rana Gruber and Byrnecut .
Rio Tinto will complement these machines with a fleet of Sandvik TH550Bs , some of which are already operating on site . This 50-t payload truck combine Sandvik ’ s 50 years of experience in developing loaders and trucks with Artisan™ ’ s innovative electric drivelines and battery packs . The electric drivetrain delivers 560 kW of power and 6,000 Nm of total torque output , allowing for higher ramp speeds for shorter cycle times and an efficient ore moving process , according to the OEM . All of this comes with zero emissions .
They also come with AutoSwap and AutoConnect functions that Sandvik has refined for battery swap processes that take only a few minutes . battery system , the Paus MinCa operates entirely on electric energy and is charged via a standard power outlet . Designed for transporting personnel from point A to B , it can be charged during idle times providing energy for a full eighthour shift . The vehicle ’ s battery is fixed and consists of two 50 kWh packs , with the machine offering zero emissions and improved air quality , reducing the ventilation capacity in mining operations .
Beyond the Paus MinCa , other battery-electric concepts are in development , Paus says .
The company has specific ideas about developing an electric Scaler , the PScale , with a concept that is driven to the face by battery and , during scaling operation , is plugged into the grid via cable .
“ This concept is perfect for machines that work stationary and can , therefore , be supplied from the power grid ,” Paus says . “ This solution reduces noise , thermal load and ventilation capacity and therefore offers several advantages over machines with combustion engines . Paus will be presenting its first full electric scaler in the foreseeable future .”
Paus says it understands the unique challenges faced by heavy-duty underground
AngloGold Ashanti is continuing its journey towards net zero with the introduction of an Epiroc ST14 SG 100 % electric loader at the Cuiabá Mine in Sabará , Minas Gerais .
The initiative is in line with the company ’ s decarbonisation strategy to achieve a 30 % reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 , from a 2021 baseline , and is part of the journey to net zero Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2050 .
Compared with the traditional diesel version , the new Epiroc Scooptram ST14 SG is zero carbon . Running on battery power , the miner says the loader will reduce diesel oil consumption by approximately 9,120 litres per month , which corresponds to a reduction of 500 kg in CO 2 emissions during a six-hour shift and a 285 t reduction over the course of a year .
The fleet electrification project is to be expanded to Cuiaba Mine ’ s other loaders after this pilot test phase , according to the miner , with the equipment having the potential to bring an 8 % increase in loading productivity , as a result of the gain in speed and displacement generated by the instantaneous torque . It also has systems with minimal heat and noise emission rates , increasing employee safety .
Paus has recently dispatched its fully-electric Paus MinCa 5.1 E to a mine in Kazakhstan
equipment . These machines require substantial power and continuous operation , making a single , large battery impractical , which is why it is developing a battery swap system for machines like loaders and dump trucks . These batteries will meet stringent safety standards , including protection against mechanical damage and temperature extremes with cooling and heating systems , as well as impact protection .
“ By allowing for quick battery swaps , this concept ensures uninterrupted productivity while minimising downtime ,” Paus said . “ With its focus on safety , efficiency and environmental sustainability , the battery swap system represents another coming leap forward in Paus ’ s electrification efforts .”
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28 International Mining | MAY 2024