Tag Archives: Railveyor

Railveyor stakes its energy-efficiency, opex cost claims in latest Agnico Eagle whitepaper

Automation, Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining industry recognition, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , ,

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited has revealed its findings on the efficiency and environmental impact of the Railveyor system implemented at its Goldex mining complex in Quebec, Canada, with the whitepaper, published by Railveyor and Agnico Eagle, detailing reduced operational costs, enhanced safety and greenhouse gas emissions reductions as some of the major outcomes of the installation.

Goldex mine, an underground gold operation in Val d’Or, faced logistical challenges due to its deeper zones and low-grade ore. To address these, Agnico Eagle integrated the Railveyor system into its operations in 2017, replacing traditional diesel truck haulage with this advanced all-electric solution. The results have been transformative, according to the whitepaper.

According to the miner’s internal studies, the Railveyor system has achieved up to a 39% reduction in mine-wide emissions compared with diesel trucks, a significant step towards the company’s commitment to achieving net zero by 2050. The system’s energy efficiency was also validated by a study from NRCan-CanmetMINING, confirming that the Railveyor operates within 6% of its expected energy usage. With its low operational costs – reducing operating expenditure by as much as 75% compared with truck haulage – Railveyor has proven itself as a cost-effective, sustainable alternative for material transport in mining, Railveyor says.

Based on CanmetMINING’s calculations, the Goldex Railveyor system requires 0.989 kilowatt-hours to move one tonne of ore one kilometer. Factoring in Quebec’s average electricity price at the time of this publication, the estimated cost is less than $0.07/tonne-km.

Christian Lessard, Maintenance Superintendent at Goldex, said: “Goldex Railveyor has been optimised since 2017, resulting in strong production in recent years. The system integrates the latest technologies like LTE networks and AI, operating in line with theoretical energy consumption models. The stability and predictability of electrical energy costs, as opposed to fossil fuels, further contribute to the overall benefits.”

Tas Mohamed, interim CEO of Railveyor, said: “The success of the Railveyor at Goldex highlights the importance of collaboration between our team and Agnico Eagle Mines. This partnership has demonstrated that Railveyor is not just a viable alternative to traditional methods but a superior one in terms of safety, cost, and environmental impact.”

Charles Gillies, Chairman of Railveyor and Managing Director at Resource Capital Funds (RCF), a global critical minerals and mining alternatives investment firm, added: “We are proud to have supported Railveyor within RCF Innovation II in bringing this innovative technology to market. The positive impact at Goldex underscores the value of investing in sustainable and transformative mining solutions that can help enable the energy transition and meet the mining industry’s challenges today and in the future.”

As the mining industry continues to push towards sustainability, the success of the Railveyor system at Goldex serves as a benchmark for other operations, Railveyor says. “With its ability to reduce emissions, increase safety and lower costs, Railveyor is setting new standards in mining.”

HydraGEN, Railveyor, BluVein, BEVs, hybrid vehicles being assessed by Evolution

Environmental, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Precious metals, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , ,

Evolution Mining is considering the application of a number of technologies to displace diesel in its mining fleet, with its latest sustainability report highlighting several short to medium-term and longer-term solutions currently being assessed and considered by the gold-focused miner.

Evolution has set a target of reducing its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30% by 2030, with plans to reach net zero emissions in these two categories by 2050.

Over the course of its 2023 financial year, Evolution says it achieved an 11.2% reduction in absolute emissions compared with its FY 2020 baseline; maintained a robust direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) accounting program, including resetting its emissions baseline; conducted a CO2 abatement cost review focusing on marginal abatement cost curves; externally validated modelling of emissions data including all input modelling; and developed and integrated internal emissions modelling tools to assess the impact of acquisitions and projects on its net zero performance and FY 2020 baseline.

It also completed an energy audit and decarbonisation roadmap for Mungari, conducted an independent audit of Scope 3 emissions, and developed and implemented its Renewable Sourcing Strategy, resulting in the Cowal (mine pictured above) power purchase agreement with AGL Energy Limited.

Evolution says the application of technologies to displace diesel in its mine fleet represents a complex decarbonisation challenge, hence the reason it is evaluating several options. It has been collaborating with partners as well as its supply and value chain partners to identify emissions reduction opportunities, including membership with the Electric Mine Consortium and Sustainability Advantage, the latter being a New South Wales Government scheme looking to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices in the state.

Among the solutions Evolution is considering – ones it categorises as “technologically mature – are the HydraGEN carbon emissions reduction device, the all-electric Railveyor material haulage method, BluVein’s dynamic charging technology, and hybrid vehicles.

Evolution is already part of the consortium of funding members to fast-track the BluVeinXL project, looking at powering heavy-duty mining fleets with up to 250 t payloads through dynamic fast-charging technologies.

The company said in the report that it was also exploring “technologies that have high potential but have limitations at present due to their practical application within Evolution operating mines and their commercial competitiveness”. One example that comes under this category is battery-electric vehicles, which Evolution has experience of thanks to its use of both battery-electric loaders and utility vehicles at its Red Lake operations in Canada.

An asset that could potentially feature some of these technologies under consideration is the Mungari mine, in Western Australia, which is undergoing an expansion to boost output to 4.2 Mt/y, from 2 Mt/y.

In the latest report, Evolution said: “The Mungari mine expansion will result in a near-term increase in emissions due to an interim reliance upon diesel to power remote assets. However, Evolution is exploring potential opportunities to avoid diesel use and mitigate associated emissions through considerations such as hydrogen power and electrified Railveyor.”

Railveyor, Mining Plus sign MoU focused on expanding mining’s material haulage options

Automation, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , ,

Rail-Veyor® Technologies Global Inc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mining Plus, a mining technical consultancy, to facilitate knowledge sharing between the two companies.

Mining Plus will gain a deeper understanding of Railveyor to conduct more comprehensive and accurate trade-off studies between material haulage methods, while the agreement provides Railveyor access to subject matter experts in automated material transportation at Mining Plus.

“Railveyor is a compelling material haulage solution for the mining industry, checking the boxes of decarbonisation, full automation and digital integration – among many other positives,” Railveyor says. “With over 150 mining professionals on staff delivering results to 630-plus clients globally, Mining Plus is well-positioned to expose the benefits of Railveyor’s TrulyAutonomous, energy-efficient, low-emission material haulage system to their customers.”

Railveyor Executive Chairman, Charles Gillies, said: “By partnering with Mining Plus, we believe Railveyor will continue to be a compelling material haulage option for projects around the world.”

Marco Alencar – Mining Plus – Manager Innovation and Growth, added: “Partnering with Rail-Veyor Technologies Global Inc represents an exciting opportunity for Mining Plus to further enhance our ability to provide innovative and sustainable solutions to the mining industry. This MoU will allow us to deepen our expertise in automated material transportation and leverage the advanced capabilities of Railveyor’s TrulyAutonomous, energy-efficient, low-emission material haulage system.

“As we collaborate and share knowledge, we aim to drive forward the industry’s goals of decarbonisation, automation, safety enhancement and cost reduction. Together, we can offer our clients cutting-edge solutions for the mines of the future.”

Ivanhoe Electric planning for all-electric underground fleet and Railveyor tech at Santa Cruz copper project

Base metals, Environmental, Mineral project development, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , ,

Ivanhoe Electric has published the results of an Initial Assessment (IA) carried out on its Santa Cruz copper project, in Arizona, USA, highlighting the potential to build a 5.9 Mt/y underground mining operation that uses an all-electric underground heavy mining fleet, in combination with Railveyor technology for material movement.

The use of an all-electric underground heavy equipment fleet alone represents an estimated 70-80% reduction in Scope 1 emissions when compared to a traditional high-efficiency diesel-powered heavy equipment fleet, Ivanhoe says, adding thatthe use of Railveyor technology would further the efficiencies associated with moving mined mineralisation from underground to surface.

The IA base case assumes 70% of the total electric power requirements for the project will be generated by on-site renewable infrastructure, enabling copper production with very low carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions of 0.49 t of CO2e per tonne of copper for Scope 1 and 2 emissions. This compares favourably with a global mining industry average of approximately 3.9 t of CO2e per tonne of copper equivalent, Ivanhoe says. The subsequent prefeasibility study for the project will evaluate the potential use of combined solar power, battery storage and a geothermal-driven microgrid as renewable power sources to provide up to 100% of the electricity requirements for the project.

The Santa Cruz IA outlines a potential 5.9 Mt/y underground mining operation, supported by 105.2 Mt of modelled mill feed with an average grade of 1.58% Cu from the Santa Cruz and East Ridge Deposits, resulting in an estimated 20-year mine life.

The IA focuses exclusively on the high-grade exotic, oxide and enriched domains of the Santa Cruz and East Ridge Deposits, with the oxide and enriched domains of the Texaco deposit not included in the current study (2.7 Mt indicated grading 1.42% total copper and 27.3 Mt inferred grading 1.39% total copper, using a 0.80% cut-off grade).

Future studies could evaluate the potential addition of the large primary sulphide domains at Santa Cruz (76.2 Mt indicated grading 0.88% total copper and 8 Mt inferred grading 0.92% total copper, using a 0.70% cut-off grade) and at the Texaco Deposit (900,000 t indicated grading 1.05% total copper and 35 Mt inferred grading 1.06% total copper, using a 0.80% cut-off grade), subject to market conditions.

Copper recoveries of 95.4% are expected to be achieved through a combination of solvent extraction and electrowinning and conventional froth flotation. The IA includes life of mine production for the project of 1 Mt of copper in the form of 99.99% pure copper cathode and 600,000 t of copper contained in a 48% copper concentrate with very low deleterious elements, such as arsenic or lead.

The IA contemplates initial project capital expenditures of $1.15 billion, and life of mine sustaining capital expenditures totaling $0.98 billion. A three-year construction period is envisioned to develop the underground workings and build the surface processing facilities.

As a result of the small surface footprint required for underground copper mining activities included in the IA, the total land area expected to be required for the mine, plant, tailings storage facilities and potential on-site generation of renewable solar power covers approximately one-third of the total land package.

The IA also contemplates placing 50% of the mine tailings back underground as cemented paste fill. The remaining 50% will be stored on the surface as thickened tailings at 65% solid content. Surface tailings will be contained within a ring dyke dam with a capacity to store 56.7 Mt. Water management associated with tailings storage is minimised as a result of thickened tailings and high evaporation rates in the Sonoran Desert, the company says.

Executive Chairman, Robert Friedland, said: “Completing the Initial Assessment for our Santa Cruz copper project is an important achievement for Ivanhoe Electric as we work to advance a new source of responsibly produced ‘green’ copper in the United States. Our goal is to develop a modern copper mine that produces copper with among the lowest levels of carbon dioxide output in the industry; a product we think has the potential to attract a premium price in the future.

“Using primarily on-site renewable electricity generation, and with the potential to increase that to meet the project’s entire future needs, the IA shows us that we are on the right track to achieving our goal at Santa Cruz and our larger goal of enhancing US supply chain independence for critical metals. We are excited about the future for our Santa Cruz project in Arizona.”

In the IA, twin declines, each measuring 4.3 km, would be developed to access the upper parts of the Santa Cruz and East Ridge deposits. One decline is required for air intake and access, while the other will be required for air exhaust and material movement. To develop the declines, the IA assumes that construction of the portal box cut would begin in 2026, decline development in 2027 and continues through 2028 to access the top portion of the mine. Under these assumptions, stoping activities would begin in 2029 with a one-year ramp up to the full 15,000 t/d capacity.

Mining of the upper portion would proceed for the first eight years before additional capital expenditures are required to extend the declines by 1.9 km. Additional surface infrastructure would be required once mining of the lower portion commences. This would include the second phase construction of a refrigeration plant, ventilation, water handling and material handling.

Mine sequencing would employ typical transverse longhole stopes for the Santa Cruz deposit on a primary-secondary sequence with paste backfill for support. Mining of the Santa Cruz exotic mineralisation has been evaluated using a drift and fill technique with access from the Santa Cruz longhole stoping levels. The East Ridge deposit will apply a drift and fill mining technique with access directly from the twin declines.

Over the total life of mine, 105.2 Mt of mineralised material is expected to be mined. This includes 88.6 Mt from the Santa Cruz deposit, 1.9 Mt from the Santa Cruz exotic mineralisation, 9.8 Mt from the East Ridge deposit and 4.9 Mt of low-grade material required to access the deposits.