Epiroc – a global provider of surface and underground mining equipment – has won a large order of drill rigs for use in autonomous surface iron ore mining operations in Australia. BHP, one of the world’s largest mining companies, announced it had ordered a fleet of Pit Viper 271 blasthole drill rigs. The mining company will use the new equipment at its Western Australia iron ore operations. The operations are within the Pilbara region of the State of Western Australia.
The company has stated that the highly advanced technology will allow BHP mining operators to supervise the autonomous, driverless mining operations from a remote and integrated remote operations centre in Perth, Australia. Perth is more than 1,100 km away from the mining operation.
BHP made the equipment order with Epiroc back in the fourth quarter of 2024. Epiroc has estimated that the equipment delivery will occur in the fourth quarter of this year.
Jose M Sanchez, president of Epiroc’s surface division, commented about the order: “Our Pit Viper rigs have become synonymous with mining productivity and reliability, an extended machine life, and low total cost of ownership. We are excited to continue supporting BHP’s important iron ore production.”
The order follows the recent renewal of a global frame agreement between Epiroc and BHP that involves Epiroc providing surface and underground equipment, parts, and services to the mining company over several years.
As part of this framework renewal, BHP during the third quarter 2024 placed another large order, this one for its Escondida copper mine in Chile. That 2024 order was for a fleet of autonomous Pit Viper 351 and Pit Viper 271 rigs. Epiroc expects that delivery of the equipment to Escondida will begin in the fourth quarter 2025 and continue through the first quarter 2026.
According to Epicor, the autonomous Pit Viper 351 and Pit Viper 271 machines are manufactured in the United States and are built tough to boost productivity and efficiency over many years. The equipment company has stated the Pit Viper 271 rigs also comes with Epiroc’s automatic bit changer solution. This feature allows operators to change drill bits changed with a single touch of a button, which saves time and strengthens safety.
More information about the Pit Viper 271 or the companies involved is posted on www.Epiroc.com.
