The

Electric Mine
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2023 Foreword

The Electric Mine

Most major mining companies have committed to

decarbonising their operations, as seen in the 2021
pledge by the 27 members of the International Council
on Mining and Metals to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2
emissions by 2050 or sooner.
It is broadly agreed that, to achieve net-zero, miners will need to focus on a transition to low-carbon power
generation along with electrification of all mobile equipment.

Swift progress has been made on electrification, with mine operators already deploying or planning to deploy a
total of 352 trucks featuring battery or hybrid technologies. But as this report will show, challenges remain – and
these are being broken down by advancements in areas such as battery capacity and on-board charging systems
along with innovations involving older technologies, such as trolley-assist systems.

This report features expert discussion on the technologies that will enable miners to achieve full electrification. It
also includes profiles on three of the world’s leading OEMs and technology providers in the field of electrification:
ABB, Epiroc, and Liebherr.

THE ELECTRIC MINE 3

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2023 Whitepaper

The Electric Mine

Technological gains, net-zero goals have led to rapid progress on electrification

Mining companies are rightly proud of the role that minerals such as copper, nickel, zinc, lithium and cobalt are
playing in the green energy transition. But at the same time, they are finding themselves having to reckon with
their status as major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

Direct emissions from the mining sector, excluding methane emissions from coal mining, currently account
for 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent McKinsey study. Diesel-powered mobile
equipment contributes 40-50% of these emissions, while non-renewable electricity sources such as coal and
natural gas contribute an additional 30-35%.

The October 2021 pledge by the 27 members of the International Council on Mining and Metals to achieve
net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050 or sooner marked the point of no return in the mining sector’s
commitment to reduce emissions. Although a handful of mine operators had previously set their own targets,
this was the first time a group of majors – in this case representing about 30 percent of global mine production
– had made a joint commitment on climate change.

To achieve net-zero, miners will need to focus their attention on two key areas: transition to low-carbon power
generation based on renewables or nuclear; and electrification of all mobile equipment.

THE ELECTRIC MINE 5

 Whitepaper 2023

Miners have made rapid progress on electrification

Electrification of heavy mobile equipment, namely haul trucks, is arguably the greatest barrier to achieving net-
zero due to the high capital costs and infrastructure requirements associated with the existing technologies.

Two main technological categories have emerged as the ideal solutions for heavy mobile equipment: battery-
electric vehicles (BEVs) and hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

BEVs are the better option for lower-weight hauling, typically below 200 tonnes, due to the limitations of
lithium-ion energy density, as Richard Horton, partner, Partners in Performance, noted in the 2023 Mining
Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report.

FCEVs, on the other hand, have the energy density and flexibility necessary for hauling more than 200t, and
provide similar characteristics and refuelling times to diesel engines. However, hydrogen-powered vehicles
are currently limited by far higher capital costs and infrastructure requirements than their battery-powered
counterparts, as Horton explained.

Despite the challenges, the mining sector has made rapid progress on electrification of haulage solutions in
recent years. For decades, trolley systems provided the only feasible way of electrifying haul trucks.

The first feasibility study took place at Kennecott Copper Corporation’s Chino mine in New Mexico, in 1967,
which involved a truck carrying a payload of 123 tonnes up a 400m ramp at a 7% incline, but the trolley line
was not able to sustain a high-enough voltage to justify commercial implementation.

The big breakthrough came with the Kiruna Electric Truck system, which was developed by a joint venture of
LKAB, Kiruna Truck and ASEA (now ABB) in Sweden in the early 1980s for the purpose of developing an inclined
ore-haulage system for underground mining. The first model, the 50t K1050E, went into commercial operation
at Boliden’s Zinkgruvan underground mine in 1988. By 1995, when the joint venture introduced the 35t K635E,
16 trucks were in operation at four underground mines: Zinkgruvan, Canada’s Hope Brook and Kidd Creek, and
Australia’s Mount Isa Mines.

6 THE ELECTRIC MINE

2023 Whitepaper

It was only in 2013* that Canada’s RDH Mining Equipment (later acquired by Scharf OEM) delivered the first
commercialised battery-powered truck and LHD – the 20-tonne Haulmaster 800-20EB truck and the 2m3
Muckmaster 300EB – to Kirkland Lake’s Macassa underground gold mine in Ontario Canada.

By 2017, a number of OEMs were offering battery-electric trucks and/or loaders, among them Epiroc, Liebherr,
Maclean Engineering, and Artisan Vehicles. However, fewer than 10 mines had begun trialling or deploying
these machines.

Electrification began to take off on its current trajectory around 2018, when Epiroc launched its second-
generation battery fleet following more than one million operational hours of its first generation of equipment.
The ascent since then has been rapid, with year-on-year increases in the delivery of electric fleets and the
deployment of mines on every continent.

By the end of 2022, mine operators had deployed or were planning to deploy a total of 352 trucks featuring
battery or hybrid technologies. Hydrogen technology, despite lagging far behind battery-electric technology,
was being trialled by Komatsu at Anglo American’s Mogalakwena platinum mine in South Africa and was
being considered by a handful of other big players, including Ivanhoe’s flagship Kamoa-Kakula project in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Net-zero goals have been arguably the biggest factor in the

rapid uptake of battery-electric equipment. “Battery development has
According to Mining Magazine Intelligence, 51% of operators exceeded expectations. If
using battery-electric vehicles have stated that lower
emissions were a key driver of their investment. you had asked us five to
Furthermore, in a survey around 450 mining executives 10 years ago, we could not
run in 2021 by the research group State of Play, 60% of
respondents named “environment” one of the two key
have imagined where we
motivating factors in considering electrification. would be today”
The second-most popular answer was “cost”, given by 48% of Mehrzad Ashnagaran, ABB
respondents. In the context of the survey, “cost” referred to
the fact that electrification would reduce the need for diesel,
ventilation systems and cooling equipment, which are all costly items. Ventilation alone may contribute 30-50%
of the total energy operating costs in underground mines, and more as the mine gets deeper, so reducing the
need for ventilation systems can have a substantial impact on total opex.

However, the respondents could just as easily have been referring to the cost of capital, which can be 20-
25% higher for miners with the lowest ESG scores, according to the same McKinsey study we reference
earlier. In other words, although electrification requires large upfront capital costs, the cost of not embracing
electrification could end up being higher.

Breaking down the technology enablers

Rapid technological development – including advancements in battery capacity and on-board charging
technology – has been the other key enabler of the upswing in battery-electric deployment seen in the mining
sector in recent years.

“Battery development has exceeded expectations. If you had asked us five to 10 years ago, we could not have
imagined where we would be today,” said Mehrzad Ashnagaran, global product line manager - electrification
and composite plant for ABB.
Continues
*
Data compiled from Mining Magazine Intelligence 2023 Future Fleets Report and data supplied to Mining Magazine by Jake Harris, on page 11
owner of UGMiningTech.com ▼

THE ELECTRIC MINE 7

 Profile: Epiroc 2023

Epiroc targets conversions as key

to fulfilling electrification commitments

Sustainability has emerged as the number one That sense of being all-in is the driving force behind
goal for mining equipment manufacturer Epiroc the development of Epiroc’s Rocvolt unit which
in recent years, as it has for much of the sector as coordinates the wider company’s electrification efforts.
a whole. For both the company itself and the wide It is also why Epiroc is engaged in what Samuels
range of customers who use its products every day, described as a “two track” approach to electrifying its
that commitment to sustainability means, in large products.
part, a shift to electrification.
“Because of this [short time period] what we’ve done is
The Swedish founded business has set itself some develop new equipment Scooptram ST14, Minetruck
bold, ambitious targets to deliver a greener and MT42 and drilling equipment, but at the same time we
more sustainable future through electrification. It has are converting older equipment from diesel to battery,”
pledged to offer a complete range of underground he explained.
equipment in battery-electric form by 2025, while by
2030 it intends to provide a battery-electric version of So far, this process has seen Epiroc complete
every part of its vast portfolio of mining equipment. conversion of three models: its Scooptram ST14 and
Scooptram ST1030 loaders, and its Minetruck MT42
“Yes, it’s a big task and it’s a short time period,” admitted vehicle. It is currently working on conversions on the
Shawn Samuels, business line manager for Rocvolt, Scooptram ST7 loader and Minetruck MT436. The
an electrification accelerator unit within Epiroc that benefit of converting these models to battery power
focuses to drive electrification both internally and with is not only in reduced emissions. Epiroc has found
its mining customers who are increasingly embracing that they use 70% less energy, require 25-30% less
the concept of the electric mine. preventative maintenance spend, increase productivity
by 10% and account for less noise.
“I would say there’s customer interest, in every offering,
is to be electric and sustainable,” continued Samuels. The transformational nature of what Epiroc is doing
“We were a big driver ourselves to start with, when we in catering to a mining industry in the process of
saw it as the future, but over the last six or seven years electrifying operations on a vast scale is about more
I see everyone talking sustainability. The big mining than just the physical process of converting its
houses want to be sustainable and green, and we do longstanding diesel fleet to electric; it is also about
too. We are all in on this, and it’s full tilt.” skills and knowledge. The manufacturer has to replace

8 THE ELECTRIC MINE

2023 Profile: Epiroc

100 years’ worth of knowledge on diesel vehicles 2022 were Australian electrical infrastructure solutions
and plant into a similar level of expertise to cater for provider JTMEC and Remote Control Technologies
the electric future. In short, Epiroc needs to educate (RCT), another Australian firm that specialises in
an entire workforce to operate and service electric automation and remote control solutions for mining.
equipment, virtually from scratch.
In 2021, Epiroc partnered with Kempower, a Finnish
In part, the process of converting the existing fleet is tech start-up that designs and manufacturers direct
helping people in the business – and the company current fast charging solutions for electric vehicles
itself – to acquire this knowledge. The “two track” and machines. That year it also bought Canadian
approach is an important factor in this, as Samuels electrification infrastructure provider Meglab, to help
explained: “We’re making new equipment and new service north American mining customers.
designs and making battery equipment that way, but
Explaining the synergies these acquisitions bring for
we’re also taking the older models and converting
Epiroc and its clients, Samuels said: “These companies
them; so then we are using that knowledge we learned
knew infrastructure so now we can bring their
from the conversion process to provide new battery
knowledge to the table and we can talk substations,
equipment of the same models from our factory.”
we can talk power requirements, we can talk about
In addition, to help accelerate the process, Epiroc how much cable you need, the sizing, how much
is engaging with educational institutions as well as power you need to do these kind of things.”
developing its own training programmes to educate
and train its workforce.

While developing an electrified fleet and converting “Digital infrastructure is

diesel power to battery will be important in the
digital mine of the future, these new tools will be important for management of
rendered redundant without good infrastructure,
both physical and digital.
the assets including vehicles,
“Electrical infrastructure is critical to an electric mine batteries and electrical
as installed electricity, substations, and charging
capacity needs to be considered when planning the
infrastructure like chargers”
mine,” said Samuels. Shawn Samuels, Rocvolt

“Data capabilities are also critical – so digital

Another important part of the jigsaw for the electric
infrastructure is important for management of the
mine is the battery itself. Epiroc has partnered with
assets including vehicles, batteries and electrical
fellow Swedish company Northvolt since 2018 to
infrastructure like chargers etc. management of the
provide batteries for its electric machinery, with
large electrical mine components can be critical to
sustainability at the heart of this partnership too.
managing electric costs.”
The partners are currently working on a recycling
With a view to providing this infrastructure for its programme, with Northvolt aiming to have all its
customers, Epiroc has brought in significant expertise batteries use 50% recycled material by 2030.
through acquisition in recent years. The company has
All of these elements are already coming together
made between numerous acquisitions over the last
for Epiroc, as evidenced by its position as the
three years, with the focus of the acquisitions being
main mining and haulage equipment supplier for
on automation, electrification and digitalisation.
Glencore’s Onaping Depth Nickel-Copper project in
“Infrastructure is critical to the success of the mines,” Ontario, believed to be the world’s first all-electric
added Samuels. “We started selling the chargers, the mine, and due to come onstream in 2024. Epiroc will
batteries and the machines. And then we got we got supply the mobile mining battery-electric machines
on line and [customers] would say ‘how much power for this project.
do I need for these machines?’ and ‘how do I get the
It is a major endorsement of Epiroc’s commitment to
power? And we saw opportunities in acquiring more
developing the electric mine, but with the way the
expertise in this field.”
industry is heading, it is only likely to be the start of
Among companies brought into the Epiroc fold in the journey.

THE ELECTRIC MINE 9

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Machines within the Smart and Green series are equipped
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 2023 Whitepaper

▲ Today, small vehicles – such as personnel vehicles, transport

Continued
from page 7 vehicles, loaders, and small haul trucks – can be easily
retrofitted with battery-packs. This has enabled the likes
Today, small vehicles –
of Epiroc, a leading producer of loaders, haulers, and such as personnel vehicles,
dumpers (LHDs) with capacities ranging from 20 to 65
tonnes, to commit to having battery-electric options for all transport vehicles, loaders,
underground equipment by the year 2025 and all surface
equipment by 2030.
and small haul trucks – can
For larger battery-electric haul trucks, the biggest constraint be easily retrofitted with
is in designing a battery that meets the required energy
density and can fit inside the limited space available
battery-packs
onboard the vehicle. However, OEMs are reporting progress
in this area. For example, Williams Advanced Engineering, now owned by Fortescue Metals Group, recently
unveiled a prototype battery system designed specifically for use in a Liebherr 240t haul truck. And Caterpillar
recently announced a successful demonstration of the first battery-electric version of its 265t 793 mining truck.

On the charging side of the equation, the most-critical bottleneck is the connector and its ability to convey
more energy to a vehicle in less time, according to Ashnagaran.

In 2021, ABB launched eMine, a portfolio of advanced electrification, digital and autonomous solutions aimed
Continues
at helping operators integrate battery-electric vehicles into their operations while maximising energy efficiency on page 16
and performance. ▼

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 Profile: Liebherr 2023

Innovation behind
Liebherr’s zero emission push
As one of the world’s leading suppliers and
manufacturers of heavy machinery, Liebherr was
always likely to be at the forefront of the mining
industry’s move towards electrification.

Since unveiling its Zero Emission Mining Program

at MINExpo 2021 in Las Vegas, the German-based
multinational has been working hard to meet
its ambitious targets on greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions. The company’s zero emissions strategy
included a pledge to offer low GHG emission
solutions for all trucks and excavators by 2022,
something that was achieved last year with the
offer of electric configuration on these products. It
now intends to follow up by offering fossil fuel-free
solutions for the majority of its clients’ applications
by 2030.

Liebherr has committed to exploring a wide range

of pathways to meet its zero emission targets. These
include conducting investigations into future zero
emission technologies, updating its equipment
offerings, and partnering with customers and
industry experts to develop zero emission solutions
for the wider mining industry.

Liebherr has also conducted a feasibility study to

investigate the viability of a variety of zero emission
technologies that could be used to complement
its existing mining equipment portfolio. The study,
which was finalised in early 2022, examined four
drivetrain technologies that have potential use cases
for large mining machines: battery electrification,
including trolley solutions and the ability to
undertake stationary or dynamic charging; ammonia
internal combustion engines; methanol internal
combustion engines; and fuel cell electrification,
either via a hydrogen fuel cell-battery hybrid in a
truck running on a trolley line or through other ways
of dynamic charging.

As part of the feasibility study, simulations were

run on these technologies in a number of different
scenarios, including looking at how each would
work in different locations and in a range of haul

12 THE ELECTRIC MINE

2023 Profile: Liebherr

profiles. The simulations also factored in fuel pricing

predictions for 2030 to assess the viability of the
proposed solutions.
“Dynamic charging with
trolley overhead lines offers an
A commitment to innovative solutions
optimal way to use electricity
Liebherr offers equipment and zero emission
technology solutions for its customers that are without interrupting the
modular. This allows the company to offer upgrades
and retrofits to future energy solutions on existing mining process”
equipment, easing their client’s transition to low Dr Isabelle Ays, Liebherr Mining
or zero emissions and futureproofing their existing
assets.

Dr Isabelle Ays, head of Zero Emissions for Liebherr

Mining, said: “We know that zero-emission mining
solutions increase complexity in the mine. We are
continuously expanding our expertise so that we
can assist our customers to manage the increasing
complexity in their business, including but not
limited to professional consultancy for the most
appropriate zero emission mining solution.

“We are also working hard on the modularity of our

trucks so that our customers have the option to
retrofit or upgrade their trucks to any powertrain
and fuel source of the future. This is already possible
with our excavators, with the option to convert
them from diesel to electric.

“Further, we understand that the key to the

success of our Liebherr solution is to bring the
energy into the machine. That’s why we are
continuously expanding our expertise in dynamic
and stationary charging.”

Liebherr’s application engineers use specialised “We have recognised that in the future electricity
simulation software to determine the optimal will continue to be the cheapest alternative to
combination of stationary charging and dynamic today’s diesel,” Ays explained. “For this reason, every
charging solutions for each customer. All elements – mine should try to use electricity whenever possible.
such as possible locations for trolley line hardware,
line length, ramp design and other key elements “Dynamic charging with trolley overhead lines
– are considered to optimise costs, maximise offers an optimal way to use electricity without
production, and minimise overall emissions. interrupting the mining process. Also, future
Liebherr trucks with zero emission drives will have
Trolley solutions this Trolley Assist option so that our customers can
keep their energy costs as low as possible.”
Liebherr has offered trolley solutions for its range
of mining trucks since 2016 through its Trolley The existing global fleet of Liebherr trucks with
Assist System. This system allows customers to the Trolley Assist System consists of 50 363t T284
power diesel-electric trucks by connecting them to trucks across two sites, and seven 100t T236 trucks
overhead electric powerlines. in Austria.

THE ELECTRIC MINE 13

 Committed
to the future
www.liebherr.com

Mining

AD
Liebherr
Liebherr is a leader in proven low emission solutions, utilising grid
electrification. By 2030, fossil fuel free solutions will be established.
Liebherr strives for long-term sustainable solutions, providing different modular options centred on environmental
sustainability, safety, cost, flexibility, and maintainability including:

– 30 years experience in electric drive mining excavators with all machine models available ranging from
150 t to 800 t class
– Trolley Assist option available on all Liebherr mining trucks
– Liebherr combustion engine compliant with Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel
– Tier 4 Final certified engine available on trucks, excavators, and dozers
– Liebherr AC drive system on all truck models providing a modular platform for future powertrain technologies
–
Liebherr‘s roadmap includes batteries, combustion engines using green fuels, and hybrids.

Liebherr-Mining Equipment SAS • 49 rue Frédéric Hartmann • 68025 Colmar Cedex • France • Phone: +33 369 49 20 00
info.lec@liebherr.com • www.liebherr.com
2023 Profile: Liebherr

Cable management solutions

for electric excavators
Liebherr has worked with electric excavator
“Liebherr has now introduced
technology for over 30 years, and has now the cable reeler option for
introduced the Liebherr cable reeler option
for its entire range of mining excavators from its entire range of mining
R9150 to R9800 in both face shovel and backhoe
configurations. The cable reeler enables excavators from R9150 to
management of the excavator’s electric cable during
operation. This provides better mobility of the
R9800 in both face shovel
machine, optimises safety, and reduces the number and backhoe configurations”
of crew required for cable handling.

The cable reeler is an automated, hydraulically-driven

solution, with a reach of up to 300m. The heavy-
duty installation integrated into the undercarriage
structure is designed so that the excavator ground
clearance is not reduced. This way the system is
durable even in hard operating conditions with the
lowest impact on the mobility of the machine.

D98 engine
Liebherr’s D98 engine series is designed specifically
for mining applications. With its modular design,
this engine can be used in equipment produced by
Liebherr and by other OEMs.

Despite being originally designed as a diesel FMG partnership

engine, the D98 series can also work with certain As part of its Zero Emission Mining Program,
alternative fuels. Due to the engine’s larger volume Liebherr has formed a partnership with Fortescue
displacement, the D98 series can use synthetic Metals Group (FMG) for the development and supply
renewable fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil of mining haul trucks, integrating zero emission
(HVO) and up to 10% biodiesel. The D98 series is power system technologies into the Liebherr T264.
also being used as the basis for developing internal The phased supply of haul trucks will commence
combustion engines that can operate using other following a two-year joint validation period which
kinds of alternative fuels. has already begun.

Hydrogen and ammonia engines To engineer, manufacture and supply the new
trucks in accordance with Fortescue’s delivery
At the Bauma 2022 exhibition, Liebherr requirements, Liebherr will use its vast OEM
demonstrated its expertise in hydrogen engines by expertise in the design and manufacturing of
winning the Bauma Innovation Award in the climate machinery and machinery core technology such as
protection category for its first hydrogen-powered electric drive systems, hydraulics, and electronics.
excavator, powered by its H966 hydrogen engine.
Liebherr began developing hydrogen combustion Partnerships such as this are important in
engines in 2019 and now, following the H966 accelerating technical development, field testing,
engine’s success, is further exploring the capabilities and implementation of practical and relevant
of these engines to run with ammonia. Testing this solutions for clients. They support Liebherr’s
fuel source in an internal combustion engine is commitment to the zero emission agenda and to a
expected in early 2023. sustainable future for the mining industry.

THE ELECTRIC MINE 15

 Whitepaper 2023

▲ The electrification solution comprises charging systems and trolley lines. Whether operators choose one, the
Continued
from page 11 other, or both of these technologies requires mapping of the mine constraints, including:

• The location of loading and dumping areas;

• Resources needed to perform loading and dumping;
• Power availability throughout the mine area; and
• Other operational limitations imposed by the mine design.

The eMine portfolio includes a fast offboard charging system for smaller haul trucks used in almost-continuous
operations with limited idle time. These offboard systems are essentially charging stations installed at fixed
points throughout the mining area. Depending on battery size (which
typically ranges from 100-400 kWh for smaller haul trucks), it takes 6-24
Trolley-assist systems, minutes to get from a 30% charge to 90% and 10-40 minutes to get from
0% to 100%.
whose commercial Trolley-assist systems, whose commercial implementation predated that
implementation of battery-electric trucks by a quarter-century, are making a comeback as
an intermediate solution for mine operators looking to reduce emissions
predated that of associated with existing diesel fleets. A trolley system takes a hybrid diesel-
electric truck (a truck with an electrical motor and diesel generator) and
battery-electric feeds power into the truck, eliminating the need for diesel along the entire
trucks by a quarter- length of the trolley line. Each vehicle is equipped with a pantograph,
which collects power through contact with the overhead lines, much
century, are making a like an electric train, tram, or electric bus. Other essential infrastructure
includes poles, an overhead line system, substation, and rectifier station
comeback that converts normal AC power to DC power at about 1,500 to 3,000 volts.

16 THE ELECTRIC MINE

2023 Whitepaper

ABB has successfully implemented this system at Boliden’s Aitik open-pit copper mine in Sweden, where
four large diesel-haul trucks connect to a 700m trolley line, and at Copper Mountain’s flagship mine in British
Columbia, Canada, where seven diesel-electric haul
trucks connect to a 1km-long trolley line. In both cases,
the system has helped to substantially reduce diesel
usage, saving the operators money and minimising
The challenges associated
greenhouse gas emissions. with mine electrification have
In a unique approach to the problem of charging larger
haul trucks, ABB is also developing a combined solution
led the sector to embrace
that uses trolley-assist to provide in-motion charging collaboration, as seen in the
along fixed-distance routes.
creation of a Global Mining
With this system, “the battery is charged while the truck
is connected to the trolley system,” Ashnagaran said. Guidelines Group
“It’s too early to say, but we see this is as (potentially)
being the better solution for larger trucks, while the smaller-sized trucks can operate as full battery-equipped
vehicles with the offboard charging system.”

Adopting a collaborative approach

The challenges associated with mine electrification have led the sector to embrace collaboration, as seen in
the creation of a Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) made up of representatives from mining companies,
OEMs, technology providers, research organisations, consultants, regulators, and industry associations.

In July 2022, the GMG published a 121-page “Recommended practices for battery-electric vehicles in
underground mining.” This guideline comprises sections on mine design and operations, battery-electric
vehicle design, energy storage systems, charging
systems and methods, charging and connection
interfaces, and performance standards.

The push for collaboration has been driven partly

by mine operators, who expect standardisation on
charging infrastructure so that they can retain the
flexibility of working with multiple OEMs, according
to Shawn Samuels, business line manager for
Epiroc’s Rocvolt zero-emission technology division.

Samuels gave the example of the Onaping Depth

underground copper-nickel project in Ontario,
where Glencore is aiming to become one of the
world’s first fully-electric mines when it commences
production around 2024. Onaping Depth has
confirmed orders from three OEMs: Epiroc will
supply 23 battery-electric machines, including 40t
Minetruck haulers, 14t Scooptram loaders, and
drilling and bolting equipment, while MacLean
Engineering and Kovatera will provide additional
support units.

“Glencore said that if they’re going to build an

electric mine, we need to provide standardised
charging,” Samuels said. Continues on page 22 ▼

THE ELECTRIC MINE 17

 Profile: ABB 2023

ABB advances fully electric mine

When ABB launched its eMine portfolio of Building fit-for-purpose solutions
integrated electrification and automation solutions
in 2021, it did so as the industry was ramping up The eMine portfolio draws upon ABB’s extensive,
the shift away from diesel-powered equipment. decades-long experience in electrification and
automation, offering ‘fit for purpose’ solutions, using
The drivers for doing so are hard to argue with. proven methods and a holistic approach , according
The mining industry needs to reduce its hefty to the company.
contribution to climate change – which is up to
7% of all greenhouse gas emissions – while still The eMine vision encompasses full integration of
extracting the raw materials required for the green- electrification and automation from ‘pit to port’ to
technology revolution. help the industry decarbonise not only its fleet, but
the entire ecosystem.
It’s also incumbent to reduce the health impacts
and costs associated with fossil fuels, especially for “These are all elements we have used before in
increasingly remote mine sites that do not have the mineral process area and have now extended
local grid access. to the mine, which is the last piece of the puzzle,”
said Mehrzad Ashnagaran, ABB global product line
Electrification and renewable energy sources are manager – electrification and composite plant.
the answer. But while this is clear, how to build the
electric mine is less so. This is where ABB sees an It is also part of ABB’s wider ambition to partner with
opportunity to share its expertise. its customers to reduce their annual CO2 emissions

18 THE ELECTRIC MINE

2023 Profile: ABB

by 100 megatons by 2030. This is equivalent to the

annual emissions of 30 million internal combustion
engine cars. It also plans to achieve carbon neutrality
“Interoperability for us is
in its own operations by the same date. extremely important. If a mine
And according to ABB, the eMine portfolio is running various types of
solutions are also proven to significantly reduce an
operation’s emissions while minimising capex and fleets, it shouldn’t need different
optimising opex.
chargers and connectors”
These solutions include the eMine trolley system, in Mehrzad Ashnagaran, ABB
which haulage trucks transporting ores are converted
to electric-diesel hybrids, cutting diesel usage by up
to 90%, according to the company, thereby reducing According to the company, charging points can be
emissions and saving money on fuel costs. The strategically placed throughout the mine so trucks
system, which includes an overhead catenary system remain charged for longer and so their use can be
and a rectifier substation, will eventually move to further optimised, boosting overall productivity, and
battery-trolley hybrids. avoiding the need for additional tramming routes
and vehicles.
The trucks alone can have a huge impact on lowering
a mine’s carbon emissions, given that ABB estimates
Tailoring solutions with automation,
that electrifying a single one eliminates the same
integration and interoperability
amount of CO2 emissions per year that it would take
46,000 trees to absorb. Ashnagaran was keen to stress that when ABB was
developing the eMine approach of methods and
As well as reducing costs and emissions, the trolley
solutions, the thought that no two mines are ever the
assist operation gives dump trucks under load an
same was very much front and centre in its approach.
additional boost so they can cover gradients on the
This is why being able to tailor the solutions to
hauling route faster, according to the company.
individual operations, specifically to match up to their
Ensuring trucks and equipment can charge when and unique challenges, was paramount. And, as such, so
where needed is integral to keeping an all-electric was ensuring interoperability and integration.
mine operation running for 24 hours a day.
“Interoperability for us is extremely important,”
With this in mind, Ashnagaran said the eMine trolley Ashnagaran said. “If a mine is running various types
system can’t be separated from another element of of fleets, it shouldn’t need different chargers and
the eMine portfolio – the pilot ABB eMine FastCharge connectors. Similarly, it was important that the
system – which was unveiled in 2021. connector convey the higher kilowatts of energy
in a shorter time to vehicle. This is why a big focus
“More and more customers are asking for such a for us is working with different OEMs, including the
combined solution – they are eager to understand technology provider active on the connector system.”
how the trolley system works with the battery-
equipped vehicle,” he said. The FastCharge system, for example, follows open
standards to remain vendor-agnostic, meaning it
ABB’s pilot eMine FastCharge is the world’s fastest can be used across all vehicle types and OEMs. This
and only fully automated charging system for mining allows the customer to make a one-off investment
trucks, offering up to 600kW of power, according and maximise the uptime, productivity and return
to the company. The technology can be installed on investment of every piece of charging equipment,
anywhere and can charge any truck without the Ashnagaran notes.
need for human intervention. Additionally, once
digitally connected, the system infrastructure can be For these purposes, ABB has a global agreement with
monitored and controlled to optimise the charging Hitachi, Liebherr, and Hitachi Construction Machinery,
process and energy usage in real time. as well as actively working with other OEMs.

THE ELECTRIC MINE 19

Electrifying your mine also improves the world beyond it.

—
ABB Ability™ eMine.
For your world, and mine.

Did you know that every electrified mining truck eliminates enough CO2 emissions
per year to save 3,000 square meters of arctic ice? Imagine the impact of
electrifying the entire mine. ABB Ability™ eMine makes that possible. Building on
decades of experience and expertise, we fully integrate electrification and digital
systems from the mine to the port, reducing your environmental impact, lowering
your costs and raising your productivity. Refreshing, isn’t it?

Let’s write the future of mining. Together.

new.abb.com/mining/emine
2023 Profile: ABB

In fact, Ashnagaran said that collaboration was one

of the first steps ABB took when developing the
portfolio and this approach was key to bringing the ABB’s eMine further reduces
right solution to the market.

“We strongly believe in the Key Technical Supplier

overall costs and improves mine
model, which is part of the DNA of ABB. We have performance while significantly
not applied this concept only on eMine, but also
previously in the mineral process area. It requires us lowering environmental impact
to work closely with the other technological providers
to build best solutions and take care of interfaces and
other things,” he explained.

It’s also important for the next piece of the ‘pit to

port’ portfolio puzzle – automation. “One of the
most important components in the electric mine is
the automation system; without that we cannot do
it,” he explained. “This needs to be integrated into
the whole system to create a full overview of what
is happening through the operation; the customer
needs to monitor and control and get data from the
system to then fine tune their operations, and, at the
same time, to understand what’s required to do this.” stress that there is no silver bullet for building an
electric mine. It is a process – one which, due to
For this, ABB has developed the Ability MineOptimize
the technological complexities, still faces some
concept, a framework that integrates individual
challenges.
solutions and brings together the electrification,
automation and digital elements to optimise capex, For example, one of the limitations ABB is working to
and maximise productivity, sustainability and safety overcome is managing the variability of renewable
throughout the whole ‘pit to port’ process. energy so that it can eventually support the mine
through its 24/7 work cycle. Currently the variability
Optimising the mine of the future of renewables and the uneconomic viability of most
ABB’s eMine trolley system has already been storage solutions present limitations. It’s also looking
successfully used in at least two mines: Copper to overcome challenges around the size of batteries
Mountain in Canada and Boliden Aitik in Sweden. and their energy density in trucks which have limited
space. The future mine will most likely have pure
At Copper Mountain, a conventional open pit, truck battery pack vehicles, noted Ashnagaran.
and shovel operation which produces approximately
100Mlb (45,000t) of copper equivalent per year, the But while the fully electric mine cannot be achieved
haul truck trolley assist infrastructure was able to cut overnight, the process can begin today. And on
carbon emissions by 90% on the trolley segment. this point, Ashnagaran said, because they are
The operator has also reported that trucks are now technologically different to traditional mines, the
running 80% more quickly overall. earlier in the journey after mine conception that the
process can begin the easier implementation will be.
At Aitik, Sweden’s largest open-pit copper mine, And here ABB is keen to deploy its expertise.
located 100km above the Arctic Circle, the operator
said the eMine trolley system is expected to save “Before we did not physically exist in the mine fleets ,
830cu.m of fuel across two trucks running under but now we are here to electrify the fleet, to make the
a 700m trolley, resulting in an 80% reduction of pit to port vision happen and we have a system that
greenhouse gas emission. can cover the entire process with full implementation
and integration between electrification and
Despite these advances, Ashnagaran was keen to automation systems,” Ashnagaran concluded.

THE ELECTRIC MINE 21

 Whitepaper 2023

▲ In this case, Epiroc and the other equipment manufacturers will supply CCS-Type 1 charging systems, one of
Continued
from page 17 the two widely-used charging systems recommended in the GMG guidelines.

Rocvolt takes Epiroc beyond its traditional role as an OEM, offering a suite of solutions to support customers
in their electrification journey. These include batteries, chargers, substation and power components, and
digital solutions. But at the same time, it remains mindful of its customers’ need to be able to pick and choose
solutions from different providers.

“Mine operations are moving more towards control towers, like the production and plant areas did a long time
ago. These control towers use digitalisation, telemetry and all this other software to monitor, track and put out
tasks to equipment to the machines and personnel in the mine area. They (the mine operators) don’t want to
have one form of communications to look at one piece of equipment and another form of communications to
look at another,” Samuels said.

“Mine operations are moving more As a result, “these digital solutions can’t be
an Epiroc solution or a MacLean solution,
towards control towers, which use they need to be agnostic. That’s really
important for the mine operators.”
digitalisation and telemetry to ABB has been a vocal proponent of
monitor, track and put out tasks to collaboration between OEMs and
technology, arguing that combined
equipment to the machines and solutions are critical to meeting the

personnel in the mine area” industry’s goals of reducing CO2 emissions

and supporting a sustainable society. It
Shawn Samuels, Epiroc has signed memoranda of understanding

22 THE ELECTRIC MINE

2023 Whitepaper

with two major OEMs, Hitachi Construction Machinery and Liebherr Mining Equipment, to work together on
electrification, as well as an informal collaboration with Komatsu.

In the case of the Hitachi MoU, the partners will explore possibilities to apply ABB’s electrification, automation
and digital solutions to mining trucks and excavators provided by Hitachi as part of wider efforts with mine
operators to electrify all processes from pit to port.

The combination of electrification, automation and

digital solutions is by design, according to ABB’s “Customers want us to offer a
Ashnagaran.
full solution – a grid-to-wheel
“Customers need to monitor, control, and get enough
data on what is happening with electrified systems to solution. We are the grid side,
be able to finetune the operation, and to be able to
understand the requirements needed to optimise the
the OEM is the wheel side
operation,” he said. because they know what is
“Customers want us to offer a full solution – a grid-to-
wheel solution. We are the grid side, the OEM is the
happening in the truck”
Mehrzad Ashnagaran, ABB
wheel side because they know what is happening in
the truck,” ABB’s Ashnagaran said.

These partnerships include a focus on integrating OEM equipment with ABB’s trolley support. But they also go
beyond that, reaching into the spheres of automation and digitalisation.

“Integration of electrification with automation and digital systems is crucial,” Ashnagaran said.

“We are set up to plan, monitor and optimise the operation and energy usage from grid to wheel. And we nee
to effectively manage the process and power control simultaneously. That is why we have to deliver a highly
standardised, configurable, automation solution for
continuous production, which is connected to the
power control and to advanced integration, and which
also considers interoperability (between machines from
different OEMs),” he explained.

“We must also manage cycle loads efficiently, and

increase productivity while also reducing costs and
emissions. That is why we need power and energy
management. On the other side, we must have full
visibility over the complete value chain from mine
to port, including the health conditions of multiple
types of assets. This is to ensure that the highest
productivity is actually achieved and that maintenance
requirements are reduced, increasing uptime. That is
why we need asset performance management.

“We must also efficiently manage the allocation

of people and assets connected to the energy
requirement in a way to improve the productivity, while
also, like the other models, reduce the cost, reduce
the environmental impact. That’s what I mean by mine
operation or management.”

In other words, he said, “automation is the glue that

bring everything together, enabling electrification.”

THE ELECTRIC MINE 23

 Whitepaper 2023

Conclusion
Electrification won’t happen overnight, but miners will get there
If the current trend is any indication, then it’s easy to imagine fully electric mines becoming commonplace in
the near future.

With that said, electrification is not a one-size-fits-all-solution. While it could make sense for a large greenfield
project or brownfield expansion with a long mine life to implement full electrification, existing operations may
only consider converting some of the fleet to electric if at all.

Brownfield operations should weigh up whether electrification will deliver sufficient reductions in carbon
emissions and operational costs to justify the capex, according to Ashnagaran. Greenfield operations “make our
job easier,” he said, as electrification can be integrated into mine planning and designing.

But, ultimately, ABB recommends a phased integration of battery-electric equipment into a mine operation
rather than transitioning from diesel to electric in one fell swoop.

“An electric mine looks different from a traditional mine. We are working with miners to break down this long-
term roadmap into short-term actionable projects, piece by piece, to gradually transform their operations,”
Ashnagaran said.

“A phased approach enables mines to immediately lower carbon footprints with a limited up-front capital
investment, while simultaneously advancing progressively as technology becomes more mature, scalable and
cost effective.”

24 THE ELECTRIC MINE

2023 Credits

Editorial
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E-mail: chris.cann@mining-journal.com
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E-mail: nadav.shlezinger@aspermont.com
Author Nadav Shemer

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THE ELECTRIC MINE 25

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