Epiroc & Skanska to trial world's first electric mining drill
Swedish mining equipment manufacturer Epiroc has revealed it will be supplying what is considered to be the world's first fully-electric surface mining drill as it looks to slash emissions across the board.
The firm will be supplying the drill to construction firm Skanska, which will be testing its use in quarries and construction sites, starting with a quarry outside of Stockholm. In addition, to operating at zero emissions, it is also equipped with smart tech, including some level of autonomy.
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Being manufactured in Örebro, Sweden, should arrive at the quarry at some point in September. once the trials are complete and the drill has been tested for safety and efficiency, it will likely be available commercially.
“Epiroc has bold sustainability targets in place for the year 2030,” says Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President & CEO.
“With the [electric drill] we are taking a large step towards reaching our promise to offer a full range of emissions-free products for quarries and large construction applications".
Epiroc has been making strides to become greener in recent years. The firm plans to halve its emissions by 2030 and offer several products that operate using batteries of renewable energy, reportedly in line with the UN and Paris Climate Agreement's targets.
It recently struck a deal with green steelmaker SSAB to use its product for the creation of new mining equipment. It also is working with the EU to push for the mining sector to become more sustainable.
In all, it hopes to have an entire fleet of battery-electric mining equipment by 2025, which will put it far ahead of the curve for the sector.
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“A milestone has been reached and a new opportunity has come to reduce our climate impact,” says Johan Eliasson, Project Manager, Skanska Industrial Solutions AB.
“I am very happy about the long collaboration between Epiroc and Skanska, and it is exciting to be able to do this project together. Both companies have set bold environmental goals – this project really takes a great step towards Skanska´s goal of being completely climate-neutral by 2045, which is an important part of our promise to build a better society.”
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