Codelco’s El Teniente Division in Chile, the world’s largest underground copper mining complex, is testing a 100% electric Epiroc ST14 load haul dump (LHD) machine at its Diablo Regimiento mine. The LHD, which has been operational since November 2022, has a loading capacity of up to 14 tonnes and produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions. The machine is expected to reduce energy use costs by 70% and emit less noise and vibrations, thereby improving the quality of life of the operators.
The electric loader is scheduled to complete its first phase of testing in April 2023, following which a preliminary performance evaluation will be carried out before the start of a second pilot cycle.
Representatives from Epiroc travelled from Sweden to Chile to observe the machine’s performance in the field at the mine, which is located in the O’Higgins Region.
Francisco Castro, Head of the Diablo Regimiento Unit, observed that the loader was very comfortable in terms of ergonomics for operators, was quite silent, and there was a better temperature inside than in a conventional LHD. Cycle times were also very similar to those of diesel equipment.
Director of Innovation at El Teniente, Andrés Latorre, pointed out that “the biggest challenge is to match or eventually exceed the productive capacity of this shovel with respect to the diesel shovel.”
“Electromobility is already part of our day to day thanks to the transport of personnel, with buses and taxibuses that we have incorporated that are electric. Our mission, now, is to transfer electromobility to operational terms, in loaders, trucks and drilling jumbos,” Latorre added.
Source: INTERNATIONAL MINING
Image Credit: Epiroc