The Epiroc Scooptram ST14 Battery loader is part of the order by Ivanplats in South Africa
Epiroc has won a significant order for battery-electric mining equipment from Ivanplats that will be used to sustainably develop its greenfield Platreef mine in South Africa. A subsidiary of Ivanhoe Mines, Ivanplats has ordered several Boomer M2 battery-powered face drill rigs and Scooptram ST14 battery-powered loaders. The new Platreef underground mine, which will trial the emissions-free machines during its initial development phase, will produce palladium, rhodium, platinum, nickel, copper and gold.
Ivanplats hopes to use all battery-electric vehicles in their mining fleet at Platreef. “We want to be at the fore-front of utilizing battery-electric, zero-emission equipment at all of our mining operations,” said Marna Cloete, Ivanhoe Mines’ President and CFO. “This partnership with Epiroc for emissions-free mining equipment at the Platreef Mine is an important first step towards achieving our net-zero carbon emissions goals while mining metals required for a cleaner environment.”
“It is encouraging that Ivanplats is considering going all battery-electric at Platreef, and we are proud to support them on this journey,” said Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO. “Battery-electric equipment is increasingly embraced by mining companies as it provides a healthier work environment, lower total operating costs, and higher productivity. The technology is now well established, and Epiroc is driving this change toward emissions-free mining.”
The order exceeds $10.3 million and the equipment will be delivered early in 2022. Epiroc will also provide on-site operator and maintenance training to Ivanplats. Epiroc will offer its complete fleet of underground mining equipment as battery-electric versions by 2025, and its full fleet for surface operations as battery-powered versions by 2030.
