Liebherr’s new 240 t class T 264 electric AC drive truck is starting to make strides, with AngloGold Ashanti announcing that six units are being added to its Tropicana gold mine fleet in Australia, upping the ante from the current Caterpillar 793 227 t class fleet. The new machines are being operated by contract miner Macmahon and are equipped with DT HiLoad’s Hercules truck body, a heavy duty, lightweight, durable, dump truck tray designed to suit all OEM makes and models.

Macmahon was originally awarded a 10 year mining contract for the Tropicana gold operation, with mining commencing in July 2012, with the end date now April 2027. The Tropicana Gold Project is part of the joint venture between AngloGold Ashanti Australia Pty Ltd (70%) and Independence Group NL (30%).The project is located 330 kilometres north east of Kalgoorlie on the edge of Western Australia’s Great Victoria Desert. Macmahon’s scope of work includes mine planning, drill and blast, load and haul, crusher feed and other associated works.

Liebherr says the T 264 in its 240 t class matches both ultra-class hydraulic excavators, as well as electric shovels and wheel loaders. Its unique combination of a high-horsepower engine (2,700 hp), an efficient Litronic Plus AC drive system and powerful electric wheel motors (4,425 hp) allow for faster cycle times, “making the T 264 exceptionally productive and cost-efficient.” At Tropicana the loading tools are all hydraulic machines including a Cat 6060 FS excavator (600 t); a Cat 6050 excavator (500 t); a Cat 6040 excavator (400 t); and a Hitachi EX3600 (350 t). Along with the new Liebherr trucks there are 19 Cat 793 trucks and three Bucyrus (now Cat) SKF15 drills.