ABB has unveiled its refreshed vision for the all-electric mine, with the second edition of its whitepaper titled, “Building the all-electric mine: Starting small, thinking big”.
Published four years after the launch of the first edition, ABB’s updated paper builds on the company’s decades-long legacy in industrial electrification, while reflecting on industry changes over this timeframe.
Mining contributes up to 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, however, statistics from ABB’s Mining’s Moment report released just a year ago in October 2024, revealed that 30% of industry leaders are behind on their 2030 decarbonisation goals. The whitepaper expands on these insights, emphasising the importance of ABB’s vision to accelerate our progress towards all-electric mines, including:
- Electrifying operations, such as with haul truck trolley assist infrastructure, can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%;
- As such, in October 2024, 42% of mining companies were planning to decarbonise haulage fleets by 2026; 68% said they will electrify at least 25% of fleet by 2030 (ABB’s Mining Moment report).
- More than two-thirds (68%) see technology including electrification as a driver for attracting Gen Z talent and tackling the aging workforce; and
- Mining leaders are on board with the change: More than half (53%) of mining companies were expect a significant or complete transformation of their mining operations by 2030 .
Since 2021, ABB has conducted 26 eMine studies across nine countries with global mining companies to understand the practical challenges and opportunities of fleet electrification, it says. With four years of real progress and innovation, the second edition of the whitepaper outlines how mining operations can take practical, performance-focused steps toward electrification and more sustainable mining today. Drawing from industry insights and ABB’s own technology roadmap, it breaks down the transformation into short-term manageable projects designed to support operational KPIs while laying the foundation for zero-emission mining.
The updated whitepaper outlines why action is urgent, but also possible. Today’s technology can significantly cut emissions and operating costs, with many commercially available solutions already proven in the field, such as electric loading, haulage and conveying systems, ABB says.
ABB’s analysis also found that miners are open to adopting new technologies – with 68% planning to electrify at least a quarter of their fleets by 2030 – but often prefer tested, proven tools. To meet this need, ABB encourages industry players to pilot emerging solutions and collaborate on developing the next wave of electrification technologies. One such innovation is ABB’s eMine™ Robot Automated Connection Device (ACD), an interoperable, fully automated, high-power charging solution for electric mining trucks. Tested in harsh environments like Boliden’s Aitik site in northern Sweden, the Robot ACD enables fast, safe, and hands-free connections while supporting a wide range of fleet interfaces, vendor connection mechanisms and evolving industry standards.
Björn Jonsson, Business Line Manager for Mining and Materials, ABB’s Process Industries division, said: “Full mine electrification won’t happen overnight, but four years after the launch of ABB eMine, we’re glad to see progress being made. ABB pilot projects provide the blueprint for building confidence and momentum for industry transformation. Now it’s time to scale up.
“At ABB, we’re helping our partners navigate this transition with low-risk, phased steps that align with technology readiness, fleet and infrastructure cycles, and business goals. It’s a collaborative journey, and we’re walking it together.”
The latest edition of the whitepaper also responds to common concerns around disruption, capital investment and infrastructure. It reaffirms ABB’s commitment to partnership, offering customers a roadmap to electrification that starts small but builds to industry-scale transformation, ABB says, explaining this is fuelled by automation, digital integration and a shared commitment to sustainable performance.
