In an interview with Codelco managers back in July 2020, the Chilean copper mining giant told IM that it was planning to trial an Epiroc ST14 Battery LHD. While the delivery of the machine was delayed due to COVID-19 and other operational reasons, the company recently stated that the unit will soon begin its pilot program at the underground El Teniente copper mine. The company has also told IM that it is looking at battery electric truck options for use underground in El Teniente.
Codelco already has extensive experience since 2019 with a Komatsu 18HD 18 t hybrid drive LHD which allowed it to validate the positive business case of going down the electric route and to understand what is necessary in terms of operational adaptations for an eventual transition to electric mining. But this ST14 Battery is its first (and South America’s first) all electric loader. It offers 100% reduction of direct emissions, a 70% reduction in operating costs, a temperature reduction in working areas of 5°C and a significant reduction in noise pollution and vibration.
The company stated at the time: “We foresee interesting opportunities and value by utilising fully electric equipment in our underground operations both current and planned. The adoption of this technology will help us create a better and safer work environment but will also be economically attractive and we hope will also increase our productivity levels in our underground mines. During the coming years, an important volume of production and support equipment will be required for our main underground operations as older fleets are replaced. Therefore, it is a great time for us to make these moves as we are open and willing to test and validate new equipment to identify the best business scenarios prior the scale up of these technologies at our operations.”
El Teniente is a dynamic and growing operation. Together with the Andes Norte project, the Diamante and Andesita projects make up the new project portfolio at El Teniente, an initiative that will allow Codelco to replace sectors of the deposit that are in the process of depletion and extend their productive life by 50 years, maintaining production levels at around 460,000 t of fine copper per year.
While the pandemic has slowed progress, by end-2021, Codelco had completed 72% of Andes Norte, 16% of Diamante and 11% of Andesita. These have the broad strategy of the gradual deepening of the operation to 300 m below current levels with a total investment of $3.2 billion. The new projects have reserves of approximately 2 billion tons of ore, with an average copper grade of 0.86% and 220 parts per million of molybdenum. Along with Chuquicamata Underground, these are the operations that will see the rollout of South America’s largest electric and autonomous underground mining fleets.
