The Electric Mine 2024 has come out of the blocks with a world-leading OEM and top battery-electric mining technology innovator in one of the top sponsorship slots. We are delighted to announce that we will be working closely with Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions over the next year as one of only two Platinum Sponsors of the event. Amongst other things this will include a Sandvik BEV customer panel in the conference line-up, a Sandvik electric machine at the event plus Sandvik having one of the larger ‘Gigawatt’ booths in the exhibition.
It is entirely appropriate that Sandvik should be one of the companies headlining The Electric Mine 2024 two years on from the landmark 2022 event in Stockholm, where Sandvik was also one of the two major sponsors. But things have really accelerated since then – some mining companies, including juniors, mid-tiers and majors – have already taken the next step and committed to all-electric primary Sandvik fleets for their operations, both established and in-development – including Newcrest Brucejack, Torex Gold Media Luna, Foran Mining McIlvenna Bay and Rana Gruber in Storforshei to name a few. Others are starting new pilots and trials with Sandvik BEVs or are part way through them.
Not only that but there have been major technology steps forward as well – including a higher-capacity battery for Sandvik’s BEV loaders and trucks that delivers 36% more energy in the same envelope. And the company is establishing a new production unit in Malaysia for manufacturing underground loaders and trucks in an effort to answer growing demand for its BEVs. Plus the long awaited autonomous plus electric question has already been answered with the LH518iB – the AutoMine-ready version of the 18-t-payload LH518B.
Moving to drilling, with the DD422iE jumbo, DS412iE bolter and DL422iE production drill, Sandvik has a full range of electric options underground already. While the AutoMine® Concept Underground Drill, a cabinless BEV drill, shows what is coming in the future. On the surface, its full electric concept rig is an ideal platform to build on as the OEM works towards its stated goal of having a complete range of electrified surface drilling solutions in all hole sizes by 2030.
Finally – what also makes Perth an ideal hub for the event in 2024 is that Sandvik is playing a central role in the electrification of Australian underground mining. The world’s leading underground contract mining market is a great place to hold an event like this. Contract mining giant Barminco this year is deploying Sandvik’s largest BEV, the TH665B, at AngloGold Ashanti’s Sunrise Dam operation in WA. The other global contract mining major Byrnecut has agreed to purchase six of the all new LH518iB machines with AutoMine® for use in Australia. The OEM is supporting all of these operations and more with a recently opened purpose-built workshop and warehouse in Perth.
For more information on the event, please see the new website entirely updated for 2024: www.theelectricmine.com
