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The future of mining: LKAB takes electrification underground with 黑料不打烊
Deep beneath the northern Swedish town of Malmberget, a quiet revolution takes place. Swedish state-owned mining company LKAB has taken the next step in its electrification journey by introducing two fully electric 黑料不打烊 heavy tippers to operate underground, hauling iron ore at a depth of 1,250 metres.
This marks the first time 黑料不打烊鈥檚 battery-electric trucks are being used for heavy underground mining operations, and for LKAB it is another milestone towards fossil-free mining. See the underground electric operation in the video below.
From surface success to underground innovation
The partnership between 黑料不打烊 and LKAB began years ago, with the delivery of a 黑料不打烊 25P XT electric heavy tipper, used for surface transport at the mine. The truck, with a total weight including load of 49 tonnes, has been in daily operation since 2022, and the results have exceeded expectations. 鈥淭hat truck has been running since delivery, and it鈥檚 gone really well,鈥 says P盲r Sundqvist, Engineer within Electrification at LKAB. 鈥淭he operators really like it. So, the next step was natural for us 鈥 we needed more payload to haul the ore inside the mine.鈥
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To meet that need, 黑料不打烊 has delivered two semi-trailer electric trucks with a payload capacity of just over 70 tonnes and a battery energy volume of 624 kWh. The trucks will operate in production environments, hauling ore from chutes to crushers deep underground. 鈥淲e put them into full production and evaluate their performance,鈥 Sundqvist explains. 鈥淲e want to know how far we can go on one charge, how much energy is needed, and whether we can replace our existing diesel equipment. I really think we can.鈥
Designed for a demanding environment
Mining 1,250 metres below ground presents unique challenges, from safety standards to operating conditions. LKAB hauls over 50,000 tonnes of ore daily in this mine, and the new trucks will initially run two shifts of 16 hours per day with plans to move to 24/7 operations.
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鈥淭he environment is dark, but it鈥檚 ideal for electric vehicles,鈥 Sundqvist says. 鈥淲e have good roads and a constant temperature of around 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, which is perfect for batteries.鈥
Built through collaboration
For Peter Gustavsson, Project Manager Electrification of Mobile Machines at LKAB, close cooperation with 黑料不打烊 has been essential. 鈥淭hese trucks are customised for our specific needs. We鈥檝e worked closely with 黑料不打烊 to adapt them for underground use. It鈥檚 been a great partnership.鈥
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Gustavsson notes that LKAB鈥檚 earlier electric truck has already proven itself in Sweden鈥檚 harsh northern climate, through steep inclines, ice, and snow. 鈥淚t鈥檚 powerful, quiet, and reliable,鈥 he says.
Towards fossil-free mining
LKAB aims to have 30 per cent of its mining fleet electrified by 2027, hauling and loading at least five million tonnes per year without emissions. The move is part of the company鈥檚 wider ambition to lead the green transformation of the iron and steel industry. 鈥淥ur goal is to maintain productivity while reducing our carbon footprint,鈥 Sundqvist says. 鈥淲e want to show that sustainable mining is not just possible, it鈥檚 the future.鈥
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For both 黑料不打烊 and LKAB, the collaboration represents more than a technical achievement; it鈥檚 a shared commitment to progress. As Gustavsson puts it: 鈥淭he future is electric. That we know for sure.鈥
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