TASSIE LEADS MACHINERY RACE

TASMANIA is at the forefront as the energy revolution arrives in the mining sector with the conversion of underground vehicles from diesel to battery electric.

Elphinstone has been awarded $5.1m from Canberra towards a $10m project to build two electric underground vehicle prototypes at its Burnie facility.

The machines are expected to be ready for field testing next year.

Another Burnie-based company, Epiroc, has already converted a jumbo drill rig from diesel to battery which is headed for the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia.

Elphinstone Battery Electric Vehicle Project manager Brett Cumming said using diesel trucks, loaders and other equipment underground required mining companies to install costly ventilation systems.

These systems typically represent 40 to 50 per cent of a mine’s total energy costs (about $90,000 a year).

The gases emitted by diesel vehicles underground are also carcinogenic and workers in Canada – where 30 electric machines are already working – say they are happier in a quieter and safer mine.

The global market is also asking mining companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Elphinstone is in the design phase of its battery electric project. It will then move into validation, manufacturing and market commercialisation of the battery electric machines.

The project is expected to create 15 jobs including engineers, a software development technician, a mechatronics engineer and two product development technicians to oversee a crew of auto-electricians and machinery fitters.