LKAB’s growth project, known as LKAB 37, aims to o expand the company’s production capacity to 40 Mt/y by 2015. Volvo CE machines play an important role in the newly-opened Gruvberget open pit mine in Svappavaara – a mining village situated within the municipality of Kiruna, Sweden. “We use Volvo CE articulated haulers and motor graders to move excess debris, dig around the mine and clear haul roads,” says Peder Nensen, General Manager of the growth project at LKAB. “We also use Volvo wheel loaders and excavators on the access roads to transport the iron ore and support our production.”

“In Sweden, there are about 50 mining projects in total including LKAB’s developments,” adds Nensen. “Work has begun on four of our projects, and the rest are in the planning stage. We are very close to opening another pit in Sweden.” Cliffton, LKAB’s contractor in Sweden, is contracted until 2016 to operate the mine and has a fleet of 12 Volvo wheel loaders (one L60F, L90F, two L70F, L180F, and three L220F and L350F), 20 articulated haulers (two A25D and 18 A40D) and eight excavators, (one EC 210, EC 240, EC 360, EC 380, EC 700 and two EC 290) which began operating in 2010. LKAB’s next two Swedish mines, Mertainen and Leveaniemi, are scheduled to open during 2014-2015. These two mines as well as Gruvberget will account for an estimated 25% of the total output in 2015.

“We run the operation around the clock throughout the year and handle the loading of ore and specialty products for LKAB,” says Ronny Nylund, Site Manager at Cliffton. The Gruvberget mine is 450 m long by almost 350 m wide and plunges to a depth of 130 m below the surface. “Volvo machines provide a good environment for the drivers, produce very little noise and have low fuel consumption,” adds Nylund. “We are very impressed with the machines and are glad to have them with us on the mining sites.”