UNDERGROUND MINING
CHARGING FORWARD WITH THE BENEFITS OF BATTERIES EPIROC AUSTRALIA UNDERGROUND BUSINESS MANAGER SHAIFUL ALI EXPLAINS WHY THE MOVE TO ELECTRIFICATION CAN HELP THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS REDUCE OPERATIONAL COSTS. THE M20 PROVIDES DIFFERENCE WITH THREE MAIN CRITERIA IN HEALTH AND SAFETY, PRECISION AND MAINTENANCE.
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he environmental benefits of electrification are a major reason why the mining and resources industry has moved to embrace the technology. Research shows that both industry customers and the general public are placing larger emphasis on companies with a greater social and environmental awareness. However, environmental factors are not the only reasons companies are increasingly looking towards implementing battery-powered equipment in underground mining. Swedish original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Epiroc recognises the importance of working together with industry and other manufacturers to give mine operators a range of options when it comes to choosing the right equipment for the right role. In 2017, Epiroc began development of a battery platform and in 2018 unveiled its second-generation battery-electric equipment. Epiroc Australia underground
business manager Shaiful Ali says there are significant reasons behind the move to provide mine operators with a battery option. “There is a lot of discussion around the health and safety aspect of using battery technology underground,” Ali tells Australian Mining. “We see the benefits of batteries not only from a health perspective but also, long term, from a cost perspective. The cost benefits from using a battery are similar to the original costs of a mobile phone. “When the mobile phone was first released it cost thousands of dollars, but as technology progressed and mass production starts, that is where you can see the cost benefit. “There are also other cost reductions when using batterypowered machinery, for example, ventilation costs would be reduced, due to the the reduction in diesel fumes associated with battery equipment vehicles, subsequently providing a healthier environment for the operators underground.” In 2020, the OEM unveiled its Batteries-as-a-service solution, AUSTRALIANMINING
THE CABIN IS DESIGNED FOR THE COMFORT OF THE OPERATOR.
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