UNDERGROUND RAIL
RIINO heads into engineering phase
The RIINO system , a zero-emission material movement solution for both open-pit and underground mines that leverages technology influences from monorails , subway systems and the mechanised raise climber , is now officially in the engineering and development stage , with an expanded consortium advancing the technology ’ s development .
Having completed an in-depth , four-month scoping study backed by Agnico Eagle Mines and Vale Base Metals , utilising a consortium approach , supported by the Canada Mining Innovation Council ( CMIC ), the company has now moved into this phase , President and CEO , Aaron Lambert , told IM recently .
“ Having been in early-stage development since 2020 , we ’ re excited to move into this new phase and engage directly with all parts of the mining ecosystem ,” Lambert said , adding that the consortium RIINO is assembling covers not only mining companies , but also fabricators and constructors . “ Our aim is to build a consortium that goes across the value chain , we want to support the technology from the beginning to the end .”
In addition to the previously mentioned mining companies , Lambert announced that several more industry leaders have joined the consortium , including mining company Capstone Copper and mining and forestry equipment service company Soudure Dufer . This expansion , RIINO says , highlights the consortium ’ s growing strength with each new member .
“ We ’ re open to inviting more members into this consortium as we advance the technology and build the demonstration system .” Lambert said . “ All of these companies are incentivised by the same thing : to come up with an alternative to the mine haulage status quo that is cost effective , sustainable and flexible .”
RIINO is described as an innovative monorail haulage system targeting the reduction of the industry ’ s carbon emissions and achieving netzero goals . It is designed to receive its power from the electrical grid which drives the internal , train-mounted motors as well as auxiliary on-board batteries for a complete electric and automated operation .
The RIINO concept originated out of Lambert ’ s experience as a contract miner in Sudbury – a role that saw him interact and engage with many different technologies . He has been working on RIINO for several years , with the initial plan to produce a system that is both capex- and opex-efficient . The headline number associated with this is a targeted 50- 90 % reduction in haulage operating costs .
The zero-emission element has created a further selling point for RIINO , encouraging mining companies to consider its use alongside a host of other haulage alternatives to the standard diesel-powered truck and shovel fleet .
To this point , the power requirements for RIINO have been based off existing specifications for both open-pit and
RIINO has partnered with Rainbow Concrete Industries to provide a demonstration site for a prototype system in Sudbury , with the aim of validating the technology in real-life scenarios ( Aaron Lambert , pictured on the left )
RIINO is described as an innovative monorail haulage system targeting the reduction of the industry ’ s carbon emissions and achieving net-zero goals
underground mines . The standard 120-t ( 18 % grade ) or 400-t payload numbers have also been influenced by existing underground or open-pit mining profiles .
Each RIINO locomotive , part of an integrated system , is equipped with internal , trainmounted motors to provide optimal driveline power . The unique design of these locomotives includes wheels that are fully attached to the rails , similar to a rollercoaster , which effectively eliminates the risk of derailments . According to Lambert , this feature not only enhances safety but also prevents production losses .
Furthermore , the RIINO locomotives offer significant environmental and operational advantages . They play a crucial role in the decarbonisation of mining operations , achieving zero emissions , the company says . The advanced technology used in these locomotives results in reduced energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions . This contributes to decreased environmental risks and liabilities , as well as a reduced overall mining footprint .
The inclusion of a Busbar able to provide 750 V of DC power comes out of the subway and surface transit space , meanwhile . On top of this , the system ’ s auxiliary on-board batteries eliminate a significant amount of electrical infrastructure such as power cables and additional sub-stations .
The company has partnered with Rainbow Concrete Industries to provide a demonstration site for a prototype system in Sudbury . This site will validate the technology in real-life scenarios . Once testing is completed in December 2025 , the site will be open to the public for learning and community engagement .
74 International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2024