Epiroc’s SmartROC D65 BE battery-electric surface drill demonstrator looks set to soon touch down in Egypt at AngloGold Ashanti’s Sukari gold mine following final testing in British Columbia, Canada, Carl Lager, Key Account Manager at Epiroc, revealed in an Epiroc customer story publication.
In a customer story titled, ‘Powering the future of Mining,’ Lager and Tony Woolfe, General Manager, Assets and Supply Chain, Capital Limited, discussed how the two companies have accelerated development of a battery-electric surface drill well ahead of market demand.
The SmartROC D65 BE demonstrator is based on the well-proven SmartROC D65 surface drill rig. It is equipped with a battery which drives the tramming motors and an electric cable to hook it up to provide power for drilling.
In combination with invaluable experience gained from the development of Epiroc underground battery rigs, this new rig is designed to enhance the environmental standards of mining and larger quarry sites, the OEM says. Besides the low emissions, this rig provides the same range of on-board smart features, and delivers high safety, reliability and performance – in a quieter working environment.
Capital Ltd has been a close partner during the testing phase, with the SmartROC D65 BE demonstrator that was on Epiroc’s MINExpo 2024 stand the same one that is heading to Sukari.
Lager said in the customer story that the biggest challenge associated with the collaboration on this demonstrator was the limitations of current battery technology. He explained: “A drill of this size cannot depend solely on today’s batteries as it would require hourly charging. This makes a reliable power grid essential – something many mines are not yet equipped to provide.”
He said that an existing SmartROC D65 has been retrofitted with the battery for this demonstrator to not only allow Epiroc to deliver a working prototype quickly, but also to concentrate entirely on the power pack. Capital, with 11 SmartROC D65 drills rigs operating at Sukari, is familiar with the model.
Lager says the companies are currently working through a “couple of small snags” and conducting final testing in British Columbia, with the rig then due to go to Capital Limited’s field trial at Sukari.
Woolfe added: “We chose Sukari because we have a strong technical team there and a great relationship and collaboration with our client, AngloGold Ashanti. Additionally, it’s one of the few mining sites with a large, operational on-site solar farm, which will be important long-term to truly make it an emissions-free drill rig.”
The full Q&A involving Lager and Woolfe is located here
