Polish mining equipment company KGHM ZANAM Capital Group, part of copper and silver mining major KGHM Polska Miedź SA’s Group of Companies and its main underground machinery supplier as well as supplying solutions for other mining customers, was among the elite group of companies recently selected for funding as part of a “Fast Track” competition organised by the National Center for Research and Development in Poland. The grant was awarded for the development and execution of a new prototype of ZANPER 2.0 mining personnel transport truck. ZANPER is unique in Poland, powered by an electric motor itself powered by a battery unit, which will be adapted for use in underground mining excavations.
“I am extremely proud of the work of my team, who have shown a very strong commitment to the design of the new ZANPER. Granting for this purpose is to emphasise the market position of KGHM ZANAM, as one of the most innovative manufacturers of machines for the copper mining sector” – says Krzysztof Okrent, Director of The Machinery and Equipment Development Department at KGHM ZANAM SA.
ZANPER 1.0 is set to begin underground testing soon after successful field tests which took place on the access roads around the Żelazny Most settling tank belonging to the tailings management plant of KGHM. After a single charge, the company says that ZANPER can cover a distance of up to 60 km and in fast charging mode, ZANPER will be in running order after just 30 minutes. It can transport up to 10 miners but can also be adapted for rescue operations and to transport explosives.
It complies with all the standards related to ergonomics and work safety. Its construction and use of electrical installation based on PLCs and CAN bus, as well as the introduction of the latest solutions, such as anti-corrosion coating or new technologies in the field of electrical connections, are to facilitate work in an extremely demanding underground environment.
ZANPER is the first big step of KGHM ZANAM towards electrification of underground mining machinery. The ecological vehicle is to be used to transport people and materials in the mines of KGHM. The field tests included checking the manoeuvrability and driving ability on sandy and muddy ground as well as on steep driveways to the crest of a tank. Test drives with passengers were successful. The vehicle performed very well in demanding terrain.
ZANPER is based on a Toyota Landcruiser. The electric drive system and software are the work of KGHM ZANAM engineers. The power supply system is based on batteries manufactured in Poland. The battery cooling system is adapted to demanding mining conditions, where the temperature reaches up to 55°C. The experience gained during the implementation of this innovative project will be used in the next few years in the design of subsequent mining machines with electric drive as a response to the growing market demand.
There is another angle to this – solar power. Last year, KGHM ZANAM also constructed the only solar power plant in Poland based on Industry 4.0 technology in Legnica which was opened in December 2020, having already built a fully functional demonstration mini-power plant that has been used as a charging station for ZANPER. The new solar plant is a fully computerised and automated facility, equipped with a virtual control room and built following the directions of photovoltaic energy development recommended by the International Energy Agency.
The power plant is also equipped with a high-resolution monitoring system which enables full technical diagnostics 24/7 and remote detection of defects. The digitalisation of the diagnosis of the technical condition of photovoltaic panels and inverters use advanced analytical algorithms based on the processing of huge data sets, machine learning and artificial intelligence methods. The annual level of energy produced is about 3 GWh, which represents almost 50% of the annual demand of the Legnica branch of KGHM ZANAM.
In line with the strategy of KGHM, by 2030, as much as half of KGHM’s energy needs will be covered with its own sources, including renewable energy sources. In addition to the investment of KGHM ZANAM, KGHM is also running other photovoltaic projects: a Photovoltaic Power Plant (EPV) at Obora Sand Mine and the EPV HMG I-III Unit. The EPV HMG I-III project consists of three separate locations in the Głogów Copper Smelter Plant where 6.5 MW of PV panels will be installed over an an area of approximately 12 ha which will enable the production of 6.9 GWh of clean electricity for the smelter.
These are the components of the strategic programme named “Development of Power Engineering, including RES”. The programme is based, among other things, on obtaining clean energy from wind power plants, increasing production from own gas sources and developing photovoltaic plants in land owned by KGHM.
