Mining's Electric Revolution

As mining companies look for ways to limit their environmental impact, it is necessary to look at one of the main sources of CO₂ emissions: the use of diesel to power machinery engines.

For a long time, underground mines were able to operate solely on diesel vehicles, a reliable energy that provided unrivalled autonomy. Over the last few years, however, environmental and worker health concerns, among other factors, have changed the situation. Is it possible to use another form of energy to power the machines?

The use of diesel requires constant attention to air quality for workers, a particularly difficult challenge in a confined environment such as underground mines. Several exhaust air filtration solutions have been developed, including catalytic converters, particle filters, fuel thinners, and more. They have improved working conditions, but have also increased maintenance requirements and machine costs.

From cable reel to batteries

It is in narrow vein mines, which use smaller than average machines, that technological innovations have made it possible to offer unprecedented machines. The first step was taken some 30 years ago with the introduction of the first electric machines with a cable reel.

All that is needed is connecting the machine to the power grid to run it continuously, and thus maintain high productivity without any pollution. However, this cable, which is sometimes hundreds of metres long and permanently in the space between the machine and the electrical socket, is not the most practical to handle. Not to mention that it is occasionally immersed in water, which can be dangerous as these machines need a lot of electrical power to operate. However, the savings in ventilation costs and the reduction in exhaust gases in the galleries justify these limits.

How do you offer an alternative to diesel, while making the machine autonomous by removing the cable that connects it to the electricity grid? 10 years ago, the market opened up to a new innovation: battery-powered electric mining machines.

French manufacturer Aramine launched its L140B mini loader, based on a simple principle: the rear of the machine can be detached, thanks to an innovative system, and houses the battery packs, the battery charger, and the necessary electronics. This assembly, called the ‘battery energy module’, can be replaced in less than five minutes using a hoist, and then charged outside the machine.

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