Chilean state-owned copper mining firm Codelco has began trials of Epiroc’s totally electrical loader at its El Teniente copper mine, reported Reuters.
The brand new 14t loading shovel is alleged to be a primary for South America and options rechargeable batteries.
Codelco plans to check the shovel in the important thing Chilean copper mine for a interval of 1 12 months.
In the course of the trial, the brand new system is predicted to save lots of greenhouse gasoline emissions by 433t and diesel utilization by 160,000l. It’s also anticipated to cut back noise, in addition to 60% of upkeep prices.
Codelco CEO Andre Sougarret was quoted as saying by the information company in the course of the challenge’s launch: “We hope there shall be extra autonomy [with batteries] which may permit us to succeed in the degrees of productiveness achieved with typical know-how.”
Positioned 80km south of Santiago within the Andes mountain vary in Chile, the El Teniente mine reported 459,817 metric tonnes of copper manufacturing in 2021.
Earlier this 12 months, Codelco launched a fleet of electrical buses for employees on the El Teniente mine. The transfer comes three years after the commissioning of the world’s first hybrid cargo truck on the website.
By 2030, Codelco goals to cut back greenhouse gasoline emissions by 70%.
Earlier this 12 months, Codelco chosen engineering group Sandvik Mining and Rock Options to ship its AutoMine load and haul automation system for the El Teniente mine.
Sandvik was additionally chosen to supply load and haul gear to Codelco.
