IM INTERNATIONL MINING

Established in2007
Located inLondon, United Kingdom
News CoverageMINING

Advertise your business here! 🚀

Contact us now and get more customers.

Megaproject Logo
Smiling woman thumbs up

10

IIM Publishers' Articles

Filter by

View by
Icmm Launches New Commitment To Reduce Exposure To Dpms Underground
IM INTERNATIONL MINING
Icmm Launches New Commitment To Reduce Exposure To Dpms UndergroundICMM says its members have committed to implement further measures to protect people working in underground mines against exposure to diesel particulate matter (DPM). Diesel-powered vehicles and equipment generate airborne DPM emissions, which, with exposure to high concentrations over time, can cause serious health issues, including cancer. Effective management of DPM in underground mines is critical to safeguarding the health of workers. This can be achieved through comprehensive measures including high-grade protective equipment, advanced ventilation systems, the use of low-sulphur fuels, rigorous maintenance practices and the transition to zero-emission equipment, it says. To accelerate progress across the industry, ICMM has also published a DPM Good Practice Guide, which provides a structured framework for companies to reduce and manage DPM exposure in underground mining operations. The guide emphasises proactive and reactive control measures, fostering continual improvement. It also highlights the adoption and integration of innovative solutions to minimise DPM emissions whilst promoting a culture of health, safety and environmental responsibility. ICMM’s new commitment and guide reflect the latest advancements in understanding of DPM exposure in the workplace and the effectiveness of control measures. By mandating the adoption of comprehensive DPM management programs across the membership, ICMM aims to bridge existing gaps and drive consistent, effective practices across the industry, it says. Rohitesh Dhawan, President and CEO, ICMM, said: “These measures embody the commitment of every ICMM member to the health and safety of our people and communities towards the goal of zero harm. They will accelerate the changes necessary to safeguard people working on our sites and, I hope, provide the impetus for the widespread adoption of these solutions beyond the ICMM membership.” This new commitment and guide build on ICMM’s Innovation for Cleaner, Safer Vehicles (ICSV) initiative launched in 2018. The ICSV initiative has driven collaboration between ICMM member companies, OEMs and technology suppliers to develop next-generation mining vehicles and improve existing fleets. ICMM says it is now anticipating the availability of zero emission haul trucks before 2030 – a shift from the previous expectation of 2040 – reflecting significant progress. One of the areas of focus of this collaboration is on reducing the impact of DPM through advancements in mobile equipment and mine infrastructure. Mike Henry, Chief Executive, BHP, and Chair of ICMM’s Council ICSV Advisory Group, said: “DPM is a sector-wide health challenge. It is pleasing to see ICMM members showing leadership and signing onto this important initiative, reflecting our strong commitment to the health and wellbeing of those working in our businesses.” The new commitment has been formally adopted in ICMM’s Mining Principles and aligns with members’ long-term commitment to pursue continual improvement in health and safety performance, as they work to eliminate fatalities towards a goal of zero harm.
mining
Dec 11, 2024
Bme Champions Sustainability, Innovation At Mining Indaba
IM INTERNATIONL MINING
Bme Champions Sustainability, Innovation At Mining IndabaOmnia Holdings company BME, a silver sponsor at the 2025 Investing in African Mining Indaba, will be sharing its commitment to decarbonisation and advanced technologies – supporting the mining sector’s drive to reduce its environmental footprint while enhancing operational efficiency. According to Ralf Hennecke, Managing Director of BME, the company is known for its emulsions, equipment and electronic initiation technology that enhance mines’ environmental sustainability efforts. As an integral part of the Omnia Group, whose core purpose is ‘innovating to enhance life, together creating a greener future’ BME is pleased that Omnia CEO, Seelan Gobalsamy, will be participating in the 2025 Mining Indaba, in Cape Town, in the panel discussion on ‘Sustainable Investment: Catalyst or Constraint for Mining Development?’ Further, Nishen Hariparsad, BME’s General Manager for Technology and Marketing, will participate as a panelist in the session on ‘The role of technology in building and undermining sustainability in African mining’. “We feel that these are vital conversations for the sector, on topics that we are confident to share our own insights and learnings,” Hennecke said. “Our own sustainability journey has allowed us to impact positively on our customers’ mining efficiencies and sustainability goals.” BME’s approach to sustainability addresses some of mining’s most pressing challenges, particularly the need to reduce carbon emissions, with Hennecke emphasising the critical link between energy efficiency and carbon reduction. “Reducing energy consumption is a direct path to lowering carbon footprints, particularly in countries like South Africa where coal-fired electricity dominates,” he said. “Our innovations, from emulsions to electronic initiation systems, empower mines to achieve significant energy savings while meeting stringent environmental standards.” BME’s technological advancements have been critical in delivering these efficiencies, according to Hariparsad. The company’s AXXIS® technology, for instance, has allowed mines to take significant strides in enhancing blasting precision and efficiency. “Our AXXIS Titanium® system supports larger, more controlled blasts, reducing the frequency of interruptions and streamlining operations,” he explained. “This streamlines energy consumption, and also contributes to better rock fragmentation, which reduces energy demands in subsequent loading and crushing phases.” Integrating BME’s Blastmap™III blast planning software further enhance mines’ ability to optimise blasting outcomes. This has a ripple effect on energy efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across the mining process. “Our ESG-focused initiatives extend across the value chain,” Hariparsad added, “ensuring that we safeguard the environment and communities while enabling our mining customers to achieve their green goals.” BME’s dual salt emulsions also contribute to this focus, offering a greener alternative to traditional explosives. By reducing nitrate leaching and greenhouse gas emissions, these emulsions reduce risk of environmental damage, and help mines to comply with local regulations and international standards. “The manufacturing process for dual salt emulsions is also more energy-efficient, as it operates at lower temperatures – further reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions,” he explained. Another aspect of BME’s sustainability portfolio is its pioneering use of recycled oil in its emulsions, effectively removing millions of litres of potentially hazardous waste from the market annually. This innovation prevents water and soil contamination while promoting a circular economy. The company also supports local economies through this initiative, partnering with small businesses to collect and deliver recycled oil. Following a rebranding exercise under the Omnia Group, BME now operates through two core divisions: BME Blasting Solutions and BME Metallurgy. This has given the company a broader impact to strengthen customer’s sustainability efforts across the mining cycle. “Our ability to contribute at both the blasting and mineral processing stages gives us a definite edge in the market,” Hariparsad said. “From breaking rock to optimising mineral recovery, our solutions align with the mining sector’s ESG priorities and help mines meet Scope 1, 2 and 3 emission targets.” BME continues to take this strategy forward through its global growth trajectory. The company’s successful integration with its Indonesian joint venture, along with expanding operations in Canada, Australia and West Africa, highlight its ability to deliver value in diverse markets. “We’re leveraging our expertise to support the growing demand for green metals and other critical resources,” Hennecke says. “BME’s investment in local operations and infrastructure, including the progress in detonator plants in Canada and Australia, underscores our commitment to sustainable growth. “In Indonesia, the integration with our joint venture partner, MNK, is progressing well. Three new contracts were secured in Indonesia, signalling further growth in the region.” The company boosted its in-country presence in Canada by commissioning a non-electric detonator plant, and its organic growth strategy and infrastructure development in Australia is progressing well – with the commissioning of a detonator plant underway. He highlighted that safety underpinned the company’s positive performance, reflected in the way it maintained its Recordable Case Rate of zero for the period. This world-class safety record was supported by the ‘Safety for Life’ program and the collective efforts of the team. “This focus is integral to our sustainability and ESG commitments, which align with Omnia’s efforts in creating a positive and sustainable impact for the planet and communities,” Hennecke said.
mining
Dec 11, 2024
Eacon Mining Fleet Surpasses 800 Travelling >27 Million Kilometres Autonomously
IM INTERNATIONL MINING
Eacon Mining Fleet Surpasses 800 Travelling >27 Million Kilometres AutonomouslyEACON Mining says it has achieved a major milestone with the deployment of over 800 autonomous haulage trucks, travelling more than 27 million kilometres across 19 projects. Its 800-strong fleet comprises 14 different models from six OEMs – Yutong, Tonly, SANY, LGMG, XCMG and Aerospace Heavy Industry (AHI). With 99% of the fleet being low-emission vehicles, it says it is paving the way in automation and decarbonisation efforts through close collaboration with manufacturers. With a wide variety of hybrid and battery-electric options, minesites can choose models best suited to their specific scenarios and operational demands, knowing the fleets will be fully interoperable. EACON says the swift adoption of its autonomy is a reflection of their technical expertise, rapid deployment capabilities, and the trust placed in it by customers. Early deployments adopted industry-typical and conservative expansion strategies. “However, EACON’s close collaboration with their customers has resulted in a remarkable acceleration in product maturity and industry trust, with EACON’s customers now reporting fully autonomous deployments achieved in as little as two weeks.” It adds: “This ability to rapidly expand and innovate has resulted in industry leaders including CNBM, SPIC, and Zijin Group adopting EACON as their trusted autonomy technology supplier, driving operational excellence across diverse mining projects.” Central to EACON’s success is its autonomous haulage solution, ORCASTRA®, which empowers mines to scale operations seamlessly, adapting to production demands with unmatched efficiency. Lei Zhang, Co-Founder and Chairman of EACON further elaborates: “This efficiency stems from EACON’s enhanced product maturity and the adaptability of our solution across various scenarios, as well as robust onsite training and operational expertise.” Operating across a large portfolio of complex and diverse coal operations, EACON says it rapidly learned the value of being flexible and adaptable and has baked that philosophy into the ORCASTRA® product. “It is this flexibility that is fuelling rapid adoption across diverse commodities. Newly secured projects will see deployments into iron ore at the Baowu Xichang Mine, copper-gold at the Zijin Copper-Gold Mine, and zinc at the Wulagen Zinc-Lead Mine, showcasing EACON’s ability to meet the varied needs of a diverse mining industry.” EACON says its solutions prioritise safety, efficiency, and value. “By leveraging scalable, ready-to-deploy autonomous systems, EACON ensures safer operations and streamlined processes.” Additionally, the company says it remains committed to sustainability, with technologies that reduce emissions, minimise energy consumption, and promote environmentally conscious mining practices. EACON concludes that as it continues to expand its fleet and diversify its projects, it remains focused on empowering mining companies in an evolving market. “With its innovative solutions, EACON is not only optimising for today’s operational needs, but innovating for tomorrow’s mining future.”
mining
Dec 10, 2024
Ihc Mining Awarded New Electric Dredger Contract By Quarzwerke
IM INTERNATIONL MINING
Ihc Mining Awarded New Electric Dredger Contract By QuarzwerkeIHC Mining has been awarded a contract to build and supply an electric CSD for Quarzwerke GmbH. This electric mining dredger is based on IHC’s Beaver® 65 and has been customised to suit the client’s specific requirements. Quarzwerke GmbH is a long-standing family business, experienced in the extraction, processing, and refining of industrial minerals. This unique piece of mining equipment will operate in their silica sands operation in Poland. With the new mining dredger Quarzwerke can use the deposit more effectively without using more space. It will be outfitted with a powerful cutterhead to cut through the cemented silica sand up to 25 m depth, allowing for a reliable and continuous production for at least the coming 30 years. IHC Mining stated: “We look forward to a good cooperation with Quarzwerke and to helping them to continue to make a valuable and responsible impact.” The Beaver® 65E is a fully electrically powered version of the standard Beaver®. With zero emissions and limited noise disturbance, the Beaver® E fully complies with the latest environmental regulations and is therefore also suitable to work in the most sensitive environments. In comparison to conventional diesel-powered dredgers, the electrically powered dredger is more energy efficient. The dredger is ready to go instantly, because the electrical dredge pump drive delivers its full power immediately and doesn’t require pre-heating. The electrical dredge pump drive also requires less maintenance.
mining
Dec 09, 2024
North America’S First Fully Automated Battery-Electric Loaders Get To Work At New Afton
IM INTERNATIONL MINING
North America’S First Fully Automated Battery-Electric Loaders Get To Work At New AftonSandvik says it has successfully commissioned two Toro® LH518iB battery-electric loaders, now autonomously operating at New Gold Inc.’s New Afton mine in British Columbia, Canada. Over the past two weeks, these 18-t loaders have been operating in the designated test area within the Lift 1 footwall, preparing for the C-Zone transfer level completion by year-end. Sandvik said: “This is a significant milestone for Canadian mining, as these are North America’s first fully automated battery-electric loaders. Their introduction highlights the potential of automation and electrification in mining.” This will enable New Afton’s operations to enhance cycle times and reduce heat, noise and greenhouse gas emissions at Canada’s only block cave mine, the OEM added. New Gold’s New Afton mine was the first operation to trial the battery-electric LH518B in late 2020. It later purchased several of these machines, which complemented the 50-t-payload BEV trucks also operating at the mine. The Sandvik Toro LH518iB, meanwhile, has been deployed at several operations, including LKAB’s Malmberget operation and Boliden’s Garpenberg mine, both in Sweden.
mining
Dec 09, 2024
Australia’S Cefc Tips Cash Into Rcf’S Mining-Focused Private Equity Fund
IM INTERNATIONL MINING
Australia’S Cefc Tips Cash Into Rcf’S Mining-Focused Private Equity FundThe CEFC has invested $75 million in global alternative investment manager Resource Capital Funds (RCF) to, it says, support Australia’s emerging critical mineral supply chain and build further momentum in the clean energy transition. RCF’s flagship private equity fund will bring much-needed capital to Australian mining projects, generating ambitious decarbonisation goals in the hard to abate mining sector, it says. The CEFC commitment helps the Australian mining sector capitalise on the opportunities offered by the clean energy transition, adopt more sustainable mining practices and reduce emissions well as helping decarbonise the critical mineral supply chain, it says. The majority of the CEFC investment will drive decarbonisation within Australian mining operations. An option to invest a minority portion in aligned mining operations around the world has the potential to reduce global emissions in this critical sector. CEFC Director for WA and Resources, Jacqueline Lane, said: “The world urgently needs a strong supply of critical minerals to power the clean energy transition. From the lithium and nickel for batteries to the copper for transmission, we must secure these minerals quickly and sustainably. “RCF is a highly experienced mining investment house. Our work with them will enhance environmental standards and reinforce the competitive advantage of Australian minerals in the global market with the potential to further develop onshore downstream processing infrastructure with financial discipline. “Just as Australia had an abundance of the resources that delivered growth and prosperity in the 20th century, we have a comparatively large share of the critical minerals that will power the low emissions economies of the future. “Through positioning as a low emission and high ESG industry, Australian mining can benefit from the once-in-a-generation demand shift to the minerals required to accelerate world efforts to decarbonise. By meeting demand for these resources, the mining sector can help Australia and the world achieve net zero emissions by 2050, while continuing to create jobs and opportunities around the country.” Jacqui Murray, Partner and Head of Fund at RCF, said: “We believe the world is undergoing a paradigm shift in the demand for metals and minerals, and are pleased to be working with the CEFC to advance decarbonisation through investments in emerging critical minerals projects.” In 2022. the CEFC invested $14 million into the RCF Jolimont Mining Innovation Fund II, RCF’s private equity fund specialising in mining innovation.
mining
Dec 09, 2024
Newmont’S Tanami Expansion 2 Momentum Building
IM INTERNATIONL MINING
Newmont’S Tanami Expansion 2 Momentum BuildingNewmont’s Tanami Expansion 2 (TE2) in the Northern Territory – the largest mine expansion project in Australia – has seen some significant recent developments. The gold project, which is developing an extensive new materials handling system, including an underground crusher, conveyors and a 1.46 km-deep shaft hoisting system, is Newmont’s biggest capital expenditure project underway in Australia. Over November 30/December 1, TE2 completed shaft development and concrete shaft lining down to 1,292 m below the surface. In addition, TE2 completed the installation of the ABB Koepe (friction) winder drum. At 6 m in diameter, it weighs a total of 40 t. In the next two weeks, the team will install its brake discs and brake assemblies before an 81 t 5.3 MW motor will be placed in position. The production hoist has two 28.5 t skips; with one skip every 2.2 minute and 25 trips per hour while the personnel hoist has a 26 person capacity over two decks; and is capable of 3.2 trips or 84 persons per hour. The production winder is fully automated; with a full speed of 16 m/sec. It is also one of the few Safety Integrity Level (SIL) rated winders in the world. It is also regenerative with a battery energy storage system (BESS). The personnel winder is an ABB single drum winder having a 623 kW DC motor with gearbox and 3.6 m drums. The production skips will be able to handle 3.8 Mt/y including waste. When complete, TE2 will be the deepest production shaft of any mine in Australia, and its 93 m headframe is one of the highest structures in the Territory. TE2 will transform Tanami into a state-of-the-art crush and hoist operation, and it will add another 150,000 to 200,000 gold ounces per year to production while at the same time reducing operating costs by ~30%. The 1,460 m deep shaft is the deepest raise bore shaft in Australia. The project includes an accommodation village, refrigeration & water treatment plants, plus concrete batch plant. Underground TE2 has seen lateral development of 7,287 m. Vertical development has included an 8.5 m diameter by 20 m transfer silo and 8.5 m diameter by 50 m fine ore silo. The underground material handling system consists of a 3.8 Mt/y primary crusher, conveyors and transfer stations. Underground infrastructure includes a 100-person refuge chamber, pump station, dewatering dams and refuelling station. On surface, the TE2 process plant upgrade will take plant capacity from 2.6 to 3.3 Mt/y. Additions include the new shaft headframe, winders, conveyances, skip unloading, transfer stations & conveyors; with new power, water, electrical and communications services. Surface facilities for TE2 that are completed include a power plant expansion, refrigeration plant, bulk air cooler, vent raise (VR8), water treatment plant, administration offices plus DBS Camp Stages 1 and 2, storage dome and batch plant. In progress and planned facilities include the process plant upgrade to increase current capacity to meet the increased 3.3 Mt/y throughput by increasing flow through the secondary ball mill which is in design. The headframe and winders are in progress while the waste stacker, tailings motor and pumping system upgrade are planned. Lining of the upper shaft leg and mid shaft are complete; and lining is underway in the lower shaft leg. The project remains on track for commercial production in the second half of 2027. Total capital costs remain between A$1.7 billion and A$1.8 billion. Looking at the wider Tanami operation, it has 855 employees and 1,420 contractors. It is primarily a fly-in fly-out operation with an over 40-year history of production with the first gold produced in 1983; Newmont acquired Tanami from Normandy in 2002. It includes one large underground mine at Dead Bullock Soak (DBS). Since 2012 Tanami has been under operational transformation and delivered a first mill expansion in 2017 then improved power efficiency with the Tanami Natural Gas project in 2019. Newmont has increased production by ~170% since the site transformation began in 2012. The current mine life beyond 2040; growth case includes inventory and exploration upside extending the life to 2047. Gold Reserves stand at 4.8 Moz with Resources of 5.2 Moz. The current strategic focus is the safe commissioning of TE2 by H2 2027 along with optimising the ventilation, paste and mining sequence. The mine is also implementing new technology – including Caterpillar Minestar, plus new fleet management, collision avoidance and automation systems. Tanami is also securing long-term gas agreements with the Northern Territory with ongoing exploration at depth and other near-mine targets. Cat Minestar fleet management systems in the Tanami control room Tanami is one of Australia’s largest open stope mines. There are four mining areas at DBS: Auron, Callie, Federation and Liberator. The operation teams focus on mine development, mine services, paste fill, drill and blast and haulage. The head grade ranges between 4 and 8 g/t. There is a current underground development depth of over 1.7 km with TE2 set to solve the material movement constraint below 2 km. The mining fleet consists of 22 trucks, 10 loaders, five jumbos, three long hole drills, two raise bores and 150 additional support machines. Regarding ventilation, significant heat is added to the system due to extreme surface temperatures in summer, with ambient rock temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius, plus thermal heat from mobile equipment and auto compression with high pressures underground. Ventilating the large underground mine requires significant amount of power (~8 MW of power for primary ventilation, ~35 MW of power for cooling and over 150 secondary fans in the mine). The DBS open stoping is a well-established mining method, appropriate for the depth of the mine; this will be modified as the mine progresses deeper. DBS has relatively good ground conditions and uses several types of ground support determined on the conditions. At depth, dynamic ground support is used to manage the increasing ground stress and seismic events. DBS also has a comprehensive ground control management system to monitor ground conditions Ore is transported via road train 44 km to the processing plant at the Granites. The mentioned first mill expansion in 2017 increased mill capacity to 2.6 Mt/y with TE2 expected to increase this to 3.3 Mt/y. Mill debottlenecking projects are critical to maintaining higher throughput (crushing circuit, tails pumping). Tanami has excellent mill recovery with ranges between 98-99%. Some 65-75% of the gold is recovered via gravity and 30% of tailings are recovered for backfilling stopes. Launched in Q2 2024, the Minestar Fleet Management System replaced the previous manual dispatch system with real-time fleet tracking and data capture. An underground Wi-Fi network now tracks machine movements, delivering precise, real time shift data. It also supports a more seamless assignment system and personnel tracking, as well as integrated site communications with live data feeds to the control room. Minestar unlocks value through optimised fleet management, efficient resource scheduling and elevated operator performance as well as improvements through real-time asset health monitoring. It also monitors equipment metrics and flags developing maintenance issues for preventative repairs before a breakdown occurs. Newmont says Minestar’s automatic, real time data capture is significantly outperforming the conventional manual dispatch system, leading to improved operational performance.
mining
Dec 06, 2024
Epiroc Rolls Out Latest Rcs 5 Update Rcs 5.7 With Important New Functionalities
IM INTERNATIONL MINING
Epiroc Rolls Out Latest Rcs 5 Update Rcs 5.7 With Important New FunctionalitiesEpiroc has just released RCS 5.7, the new update to Epiroc’s Rig Control System, RCS 5. Since its release in 2019, RCS 5 has delivered advanced safety and interlock features and a flexible platform to add new functionalities without major machine overhauls. Whether operating drills manually with options like AutoDrill and AutoLevel or autonomously, Epiroc says RCS 5 empowers operators to optimise performance and safety. The new updated Automatic Bit Changer introduces Teleremote support, allowing operators to change bits safely from the control room. With an improved interface and refined controller tolerances, this feature enhances reliability and ensures smoother operation, boosting overall performance and versatility. The AutoDrill 2 update brings significant advancements to rotary and DTH operations. Upgraded air controls, refined collaring, and improved hole cleaning result in higher accuracy and efficiency, delivering consistent, high-quality results for every drill. Operators can now also manage TUM codes remotely through the LinkOA application. This innovation allows real-time synchronisation between the office and drills, reducing operator workload and improving accuracy in time accounting. “RCS 5.7 drives the future of automated rigs with unmatched performance and value. These updates to our Rig Control System RCS 5 continue to elevate efficiency and productivity in mining operations,” said Carla Chaname , Product Manager.
mining
Dec 06, 2024
Intramotev Achieves ‘World First’ Battery-Electric Rail Milestone At Carmeuse’S Calcium Mine
IM INTERNATIONL MINING
Intramotev Achieves ‘World First’ Battery-Electric Rail Milestone At Carmeuse’S Calcium MineIntramotev, the technology company building battery-electric railcar retrofits, has started operating its TugVolt technology at Carmeuse America’s calcium mine in Cedarville, Michigan. This milestone, captured on video, makes it the world’s first independently driven battery-electric railcar in revenue service, according to the company. With support from the Michigan Mobility Funding Program, Intramotev will deploy a total of three TugVolt battery-electric railcars at the Cedarville site. The deployment is estimated to eliminate up to 55,000 gallons (208,198 litres) of diesel consumption and 617 tons (560 t) of vehicle-level CO2 emissions. “As Intramotev continues to serve customers across the country, we’re excited to share a glimpse of our technology in action,” Tim Luchini, Intramotev’s CEO, “Collaborating with a world-class partner like Carmeuse Americas brings us closer to achieving our mission of decarbonising mining and steel transportation.” Jeff Bittner, Senior VP of Operations at Carmeuse, said: “We’re excited to partner with Intramotev to deploy their TugVolt technology. This partnership represents an incredible opportunity to increase our efficiency, decrease our carbon footprint, and keep our workers safe and focused on what they do best through adoption of emerging digital technologies. “It’s a win-win for everyone involved.” TugVolt is a proprietary kit that can retrofit/upfit existing rail cars to become battery-electric. It can decouple to independently service first- and last-mile legs, providing the type of flexibility that, the company says, will allow the system to more readily compete with trucking. The Carmeuse deployment is the latest in a year of major announcements from Intramotev, including a $14 million Series A fundraise, a deployment at Iron Senergy’s Cumberland Mine, and a switching agreement with freight carrier Eagle Drayage.
mining
Dec 06, 2024
Intramotev Battery-Electric Rail Milestone At Carmeuse Calcium Carbonate Mine
IM INTERNATIONL MINING
Intramotev Battery-Electric Rail Milestone At Carmeuse Calcium Carbonate MineIntramotev, the technology company building battery-electric railcar retrofits, has started operating its TugVolt technology at Carmeuse America’s calcium carbonate mine in Cedarville, Michigan. This milestone, captured on video, makes it the world’s first independently driven battery-electric railcar in revenue service, according to the company. With support from the Michigan Mobility Funding Program, Intramotev will deploy a total of three TugVolt battery-electric railcars at the Cedarville site. The deployment is estimated to eliminate up to 55,000 gallons (208,198 litres) of diesel consumption and 617 tons (560 t) of vehicle-level CO2 emissions. “As Intramotev continues to serve customers across the country, we’re excited to share a glimpse of our technology in action,” Tim Luchini, Intramotev’s CEO, “Collaborating with a world-class partner like Carmeuse Americas brings us closer to achieving our mission of decarbonising mining and steel transportation.” Jeff Bittner, Senior VP of Operations at Carmeuse, said: “We’re excited to partner with Intramotev to deploy their TugVolt technology. This partnership represents an incredible opportunity to increase our efficiency, decrease our carbon footprint, and keep our workers safe and focused on what they do best through adoption of emerging digital technologies. “It’s a win-win for everyone involved.” TugVolt is a proprietary kit that can retrofit/upfit existing rail cars to become battery-electric. It can decouple to independently service first- and last-mile legs, providing the type of flexibility that, the company says, will allow the system to more readily compete with trucking. The Carmeuse deployment is the latest in a year of major announcements from Intramotev, including a $14 million Series A fundraise, a deployment at Iron Senergy’s Cumberland Mine, and a switching agreement with freight carrier Eagle Drayage.
mining
Dec 06, 2024