GLOBAL NETWORK FOR DERISKING MINE ELECTRIFICATION

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE

The mining industry’s shift toward electrification and decarbonization is supported by GMG, its members, and several other mining associations actively working in this space. Together, they play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable practices, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting the adoption of electric technologies. Their resources and collaborations offer valuable insights into the ongoing efforts to create a cleaner, more efficient future for mining.

Working Groups and Projects

The Electric Mine Working Group

The Electric Mine Working Group is a global community that aims to accelerate the adoption of all-electric technologies in mining, address the challenges associated with them, and share information on how they can enable safer, more efficient, productive, and cost-effective mines.

Current Projects

Electric Mobile Equipment KPIs and Definitions Guideline

This white paper defines performance indicators for battery electric vehicle (BEV) adoption, covering:

Battery Health Metrics: Charge cycles, state-of-charge (SoC), and state-of-health (SoH).

Energy Consumption Optimization: Evaluating terrain impact, regenerative braking efficiency, and charging schedules.

Fleet-Wide Data Integration: Standardizing real-time telemetry from onboard sensors, smart charging stations, and energy dispatch systems.

Implementation of Battery Electric Vehicles in Surface Mining

This project develops a guideline for integrating battery electric vehicles (BEVs) into mining fleets, addressing:

Infrastructure Needs: Power grid requirements, fast-charging networks, and energy storage solutions.

Operational Considerations: Route optimization, regenerative braking strategies, and haulage cycle planning.

Safety & Risk Management: Fire suppression, thermal runaway mitigation, and emergency response protocols.

Current Projects

An Approach to Energy Management at the Mine Site

This initiative provides a structured approach to mine site energy optimization, focusing on:

Energy Auditing & Efficiency Strategies: Identifying energy loss points in comminution, ventilation, and material handling.

Decarbonization Roadmaps: Transitioning to renewable energy sources and hybrid power systems.

KPI Development: Establishing benchmarks for energy intensity per ton mined and renewable energy integration ratios.

Current Projects

The Autonomous Mining Working Group is focused on assisting the industry with its ongoing digital transformation and helping operations achieve the benefits that autonomous systems can offer. The group is built by subject-matter experts, leaders from inside and outside the industry, suppliers, operators, and those interested in implementing autonomous systems in mining.

Framework for Safe Mixed Fleet Operations in Underground Mining

This initiative establishes a safety framework for mixed traffic operations, enabling coexistence between autonomous and manually operated equipment. Deliverables include:

Theoretical Foundations: Developing a validated safety system using System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) and formal safety assurance methodologies.

Technical Implementation: Defining safety protocols for two-way ranging, obstacle detection, and collision avoidance systems.

Industry Application: Documenting real-world case studies of multi-vendor interoperability and sensor fusion-based safety systems.

Ecosystem: Develop a vision for the system of the strategy for transitioning from current innovations to an open ecosystem.

Zero Entry Mining

Zero entry mining eliminates human presence in hazardous mining zones, leveraging teleoperation, robotics, and fully autonomous systems. This ongoing initiative explores:

Mine Design: Engineering new layouts optimized for remote and automated operation.

Technology Stack: Integrating AI-driven navigation, robotic drill rigs, and tele-remote loaders.

Operational Challenges: Addressing communication latency, underground energy infrastructure, and sensor reliability.

Economic Feasibility: Evaluating the cost-benefit trade-offs of zero-entry vs. traditional mining methods.

to foster and refine the ideas necessary to transition mining toward a zero entry future.

Following the publication of a visionary paper next month, a series of nine discussion papers is planned to address common challenges and opportunities in zero entry mining. These papers, developed in parallel, aim to spark industry-wide dialogue, encouraging knowledge sharing and exploration of new opportunities.