Blog Layout

Epiroc hauler fleet for Byrnecut

October 13, 2023

Byrnecut Australia has ordered a fleet of Epiroc Minetruck MT65 S haulers for its Kathleen Valley lithium project in Western Australia.


Epiroc said the MT65 S is the world’s highest payload underground truck in the field, and valued the order at SEK$130 million ($18.5 million).


“We are excited to contribute to the success of the new Kathleen Valley mine, where the production of lithium, especially, will support the acceleration of the transformation to a low-carbon society,” Epiroc president and chief executive officer Helena Hedblom said.


Epiroc underground division president Sami Niiranen also welcomed the deal with Byrnecut.


“The newly updated Epiroc Minetruck MT65 S is a top-of-the-line machine designed with a focus on safety, productivity, energy efficiency, and operator comfort,” he said.


“We look forward to continue working together with Byrnecut to make their mining operations successful.”


The Kathleen Valley mine is currently under development, with production targeted to begin in 2024.


Once the mine is in production, Epiroc has said it will provide parts and service support for the haulers, including service technicians on the mine site.

Epiroc and Byrnecut have a long-standing partnership, with the contractor already running a fleet of Minetruck MT65 haulers at other mine sites.


The new contract follows Epiroc’s announcement of a commitment to collaborate with Newcrest on a new strategic partnership.


The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding last week aiming to take a holistic approach toward the entire mining process at Newcrest’s mines.


Byrnecut also executed a $1 billion contract with Liontown Resources last week for underground mining services at Kathleen Valley.


The contract will run for four years, with Liontown already beginning preparatory works at Kathleen Valley ahead of the mobilisation of Byrnecut in the coming weeks.


Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/epiroc-hauler-fleet-for-byrnecut


July 9, 2024
The Queensland Government has broken ground on the first construction works of the $5 billion CopperString project. Work commenced yesterday on the CopperString projects’ first and largest workforce accommodation site. The site will house those charged with building the project’s 840km high-voltage transmission line that will connect Mount Isa to the ‘SuperGrid’ for the first time. The workforce accommodation will house up to 550 construction workers at its peak. These workers will construct a nearby substation and progress early stages of the transmission line development heading west from Hughenden out to Mount Isa. Supercharging the state’s north-west aims to unlock Queensland’s $500 billion north-west minerals province. It’s expected CopperString will be complete in 2029, weather and construction conditions permitting. Queensland Premier Stephen Miles said CopperString is the biggest ever expansion to the state’s publicly owned energy system. “Queenslanders deserve cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy – to power their homes, our schools, hospitals, shopping centres and more,” Miles said . “CopperString will be the catalyst for transforming Queensland’s north and north-west – opening up mining opportunities, creating more jobs and unlocking critical minerals which will be essential in developing renewable technologies. “This is the start of a long and exciting future for the region and our state.” Commencing later this month, project owner, Queensland Powerlink, will be offering free sessions for businesses along the CopperString corridor to build their capabilities. The program includes five workshops and one-on-one assistance to help businesses build confidence to bid on major projects and supply chain work in the region. “All of North Queensland understands the immense opportunities that CopperString presents for local jobs both directly and indirectly which is why this is such a momentous day,” Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart said.  “Critical minerals are the next big boom for the resources industry and the feedback I’ve had from companies is that this project is key to unlocking those opportunities.” Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/queensland-breaks-ground-on-copperstring/
July 8, 2024
Underground mines are busy places, and it’s vital companies are on top of their processes to enable an efficient and safe underground operation. Whether it’s having the best equipment to drive higher production, maximise return on investment, minimise waste or keep workers out of harm’s way, mining companies benefit from understanding and investing in the right underground technologies. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/showcasing-the-best-in-underground-mining/
July 8, 2024
BHP has started environmental processing to have the transport at its Escondida copper mine in Chile transitioned to an electric trolley system. The Big Australian will invest around $US250 million ($371.6 million) in the project at Escondida, which it owns in a joint venture with Rio Tinto. The funds will go towards installing key infrastructure to electrically assist the movement of extraction trucks in areas where the highest fuel consumption currently takes place. BHP has submitted an environmental impact statement to the Environmental Impact Assessment System in Chile. “The electric trolley system is one of the initiatives with which we seek to move towards a safer and more sustainable way of operating hand in hand with technology,” BHP Escondida president Alejandro Tapia said . “This project will allow us to reduce the fuel consumption of our extraction trucks and thus advance our goal of net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” The project includes the construction of a new electrical substation and transmission lines both inside and around the Escondida Norte pit. These facilities will electrically assist the movement of trucks inside the mine in the areas where they go up loaded with ore and, consequently, consume more fuel. With this new technology, instead of using diesel, they will be propelled by electrical power, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving productivity associated with truck performance given the higher travel speed. Once construction kicks off up to 160 jobs are expected to be created. The trolley project is in addition to other technological transformation initiatives that the company maintains in different stages of study and execution, including the progressive incorporation of autonomy in its mining equipment.  To date, Escondida has six autonomous trucks in full operation and by 2025 it expects to have the largest fleet of autonomous equipment in South America. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/bhp-goes-green-at-worlds-largest-copper-mine/
Share by: