Gold miner Agnico Eagle will explore the benefits of battery-electric technology by trialling the Sandvik LH518B underground loader.
With operations in Canada, Europe, South America and Australia, Agnico Eagle is a leading global gold producer.
The company’s Fosterville gold mine is working with Sandvik to trial the new LH518B underground loader.
Located just outside of Bendigo, Victoria, the mine is the largest gold producer in the state, employing more than 800 people who are mostly local to the area.
A mining operation as large as Fosterville needs superior equipment to run smoothly.
And that’s where Sandvik comes in.
Sandvik’s LH518B is a compact 18-tonne loader and is driven by battery-electric power.
The compact size and powerful motors allow the LH518B to fit in the tightest of tunnels without sacrificing payload or visibility.
The Fosterville operation will become the first mine on Australia’s east coast, and only the second such operation in the country, to take delivery of the LH518B.
“As a company, we’re committed to exploring new technologies to further enhance our extensive health and safety programs and to fully integrate sustainability into everything we do,” Fosterville Gold Mine general manager Lance Faulkner said.
The LH518B has several features that make it an ideal choice for the large gold miner.
The advanced lithium-iron phosphate battery is a particularly exciting feature, as it means the LH518B produces zero underground exhaust emissions and emits significantly less heat than its diesel counterparts.
Another feature of the machine is its 600kW drivetrain, allowing for higher acceleration than conventional loaders. This drivetrain also allows for fast ramp speeds, resulting in short cycle times.
And courtesy of its space-efficient battery system and driveline, the loader is capable of fitting in a 4.5×4.5m tunnel.
“By trialling the Sandvik LH518B, Agnico Eagle is putting itself at the forefront of this emerging technology and showing its environmental credentials,” Sandvik business line manager for load and haul Andrew Dawson said.
Dawson also commented on the advantages that Sandvik battery-electric vehicles bring in terms of safety, efficiency and sustainability.
“It’s no surprise that they are rapidly gaining popularity among underground operators,” he said.
“Not only does the loader produce no underground emissions and significantly reduced heat, but it also delivers new levels of productivity.
“It all makes for a safer, more comfortable, more controlled underground environment.”
The addition of Sandvik’s AutoSwap technology was another attractive feature of the LH518B loader for Fosterville. This technology allows for a depleted battery to be offloaded and a fully charged unit loaded in as little as six minutes, with no need for lifting infrastructure.
By utilising the AutoSwap feature, operators at the mine can reduce downtime, which is always an important consideration for mining operations.
“It’s crucial that new technologies are sustainable and safe, but also that they contribute to the efficiency and smooth running of our mining operation,” Faulkner said.
Sustainability has always been a particularly important goal for Sandvik, with Sandvik Australia general manager – sustainability Kate Bills saying the LH518B is a reflection of Sandvik’s determination to lead the market for safe, productive and climate-efficient mining equipment.
“Sandvik is putting its money where its mouth is by investing in battery-electric vehicles and other technologies that are helping customers achieve their sustainability goals,” Bills said.
“Customers both globally and in Australia are increasingly looking for these kinds of solutions and we are proud to be providing them.”
Sandvik has been engineering solutions for the mining industry for decades and the LH518B is the latest in its large portfolio.
“We’re delighted to be putting the LH518B into service at Fosterville,” Faulkner said. “We’re interested to see just what kind of difference it can make in terms of efficiency and the underground working environment, and we look forward to working closely with Sandvik.”
This feature appeared in the October issue of Australian Mining.