With increasing commitments by mining groups to decarbonise and reduce GHG emissions, there has been a definite uptick in interest in trolley assist solutions worldwide. As the leading supplier of electric drive mining trucks globally, Komatsu is addressing this by developing together with its AC electric drive supplier Wabtec, a new Trolley Assist Package for its 227 t 830E-5 and 290 t 930E-5 trucks that will be formally launched starting with the 830E-5 in 2021 then the 930E-5 in 2022.
Komatsu told IM that the 830E-5 Trolley Assist Package is the first it has developed for its electric drive truck (EDT) products since the 860E-1K and 960E-1K/960E-2K, which were launched a decade ago and had Siemens AC drive solutions including liquid cooled IGBT inverter system and alternator. A number of these trucks are still running at mines like Kumba’s Sishen in South Africa and FQM’s Sentinel in Zambia. The trolley assist packages for the 630E, 730E DC and some even older models, Komatsu no longer produces.
There are two confirmed customers so far for the new 830E-5 trolley package – the first is copper miner Copper Mountain Mining in BC, Canada who have confirmed the mine will reduce carbon intensity by >50% in 5-7 years through electrification and capacity increase with a final target of zero by 2035. The trolley trial could lead to full trolley introduction in three phases in conjunction with other actions such as switching to all electric shovels and drills. The company is partnering with Komatsu, its dealer SMS, electrification technology giant ABB, hydropower group BC Hydro and the BC government to advance this trial. The first phase would help reduce its tCO2e/t CuEq from the current 2.99 to 2.10, the second phase to 1.55 and the third to zero. Given that Komatsu and Wabtec are delivering the truck solution it is assumed that the ABB involvement will be the trolley line and associated infrastructure.
The Copper Mountain trucks that will be retrofitted with the Komatsu/Wabtec Trolley Assist Package are Komatsu 830E-5s that were shipped in 2019. These trucks were shipped from the factory with some modifications, including access ladder relocation and frame reinforcement for the trolley pantograph structure. The modifications were completed in anticipation of being retrofitted with the Trolley Assist Package. Komatsu told IM that Copper Mountain will be installing the Trolley Assist Package on its fleet of Komatsu 830E-5 haul trucks in 2021.
IM also asked Copper Mountain Mining about trolley potential for its new Eva copper project in Australia in in north-west Queensland. Executive Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development, Letitia Wong comments: “In regard to Eva, it currently is not in the current feasibility studies mine plan or economics, but we plan to apply a similar approach in Australia. Our ESG commitment to reduce our carbon footprint is a wholistic objective for our entire company, and applies to each asset. We are looking at how to invest in renewable energy at Eva, following the same philosophy as we are at the Copper Mountain Mine in BC.”
The second launch customer is Boliden’s Kevitsa polymetallic mine (primary products nickel and copper) in Finland. Boliden announced in 2019 the arrival of the first of a fleet of 17 Komatsu 830E-5 trucks which are all now on site. It added in October 2019 that 13 of these mining trucks are being converted for electric trolley operation at the same time as the 1.8 km-long electric trolley line is being built. The investment means that greenhouse gas emissions over the life of mine will be reduced by 9%. The electric trolley installations are being deployed in stages until 2022.
A third potential customer for Komatsu’s new package could be iron ore miner Cleveland-Cliffs in Minnesota’s Iron Range where energy company Minnesota Power says it plans to work with mining customers on a potential mine truck electrification pilot. Along with its filing to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission were a series of supporting letters, including a submission from iron ore miner United Taconite, part of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc, one from Komatsu and one from electrification and power technology major, ABB.
Cleveland-Cliffs said: “Cleveland-Cliffs has invested substantial capital dollars at United Taconite in order to maintain a sustainable, competitive and environmentally responsible operation. This includes a C$75 million investment in operational upgrades and new infrastructure to produce the Mustang superflux iron ore pellet. The mine truck electrification proposal would provide an opportunity to further our dedication to pursuing ennvironmental improvement technologies that balance our need to remain competitive in a global market.”
Road Machinery and Supplies (RMS) is the Komatsu certified dealership in Minnesota with its HQ in Savage. It said in its letter of support for the project: “Komatsu has a 30 year history of trolley innovation, development and experience working with customers to reduce diesel dependency and take advantage of the environmental impacts that trolley operation can offer. Currently there are 160 Komatsu electric drive trucks operating with trolley packages globally with a request for another 100+ units over the next three years. Trolley applications can reduce the emissions of greenhosue gases, increase productivity and reduce operating costs for the operations which utilise it. We encourage the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to support exploring the feasibility of a mine truck electrification pilot project in Minnesota.”
