Eliminating diesel creates a safer working environment and reduces the costs of ventilation, heat generation, maintenance and more. The electric mine has also been identified as a commercially viable way to achieve these benefits and to reduce our industry’s ecological footprint. This working group is a global community that aims to accelerate the adoption of all-electric technologies in mining and address the challenges associated with it through collaboration and information sharing.
INDUSTRY IMPORTANCE
The mining industry relies on fossil fuels, namely diesel, to drive business. However, they are expensive and limited resources and have been proven to pose health hazards. For example, diesel emissions are classified as ‘Group 1: carcinogenic to humans’ by the World Health Organization.
Electric mine technologies offer multiple advantages:
- A safer work environment
- Reduced energy costs
- Minimized environmental impacts
- Enhanced productivity, efficiency and performance
While there are many benefits, there are also multiple challenges that come with them, including energy consumption modelling, operational and infrastructure adaptations and change management.
ABOUT THE WORKING GROUP
The Electric Mine Working Group was launched in response to a global industry and social demand to move toward more sustainable energy-sources and find alternative solutions to fossil fuels. Safer and more efficient, productive and cost-effective mines are expected outcomes of this transition. The group is a global community of subject matter experts, operators and leaders from inside and outside the mining industry and those interested in advancing all-electric technologies in their operations.
Objectives
- Accelerate the advancement and adoption of electric mining technologies by sharing data, best practices, models and cross-learning
- Enable a global community of practice to drive valuable conversations, share lived examples and find collaborative solutions to key challenges
- Oversee projects that deliver high-quality material on electric mining technologies
Key topics
- Potential risks of electric equipment
- Fire prevention and suppression
- Battery management
- Safety around electric equipment
- Analyzing electric equipment based on performance, cost and requirements
ACTIVE PROJECTS
Electric Mine Operational Knowledge Share Project
This project will enable a neutral platform for the industry to monitor, track and record electric equipment utilization. Additionally, it will provide best practices, lessons learned and root causes. Learn more.
Recommended Practices for BEVs in Mining - 3rd Edition
There is a continued urgency to reduce greenhouse gases and growing industry interest in adopting battery-electric technologies for underground and surface mining. The project will enable the industry to adopt electric vehicles in their mine operations and/or enhance their current process in BEVs and battery charging. Learn more.
GMG Publications & Resources
2020 June | Electric Mine Operational Knowledge Sharing Platform Summary of Survey Results and Workshop Outcomes
2018 Nov | Recommended Best Practices for Battery Electric Vehicles in Underground Mining – 2nd Edition (see also: Underground Mining Working Group)
This guideline outlines the recommended practices for using battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in an underground mining environment. It is structured as a specification and can be included in mining companies’ tender documents to mining vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Click here to access guideline
UPDATES