Sweden-based international iron-ore mining, processing and trading group Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB (LKAB) has inaugurated the deepest new production level, the seventh main level, at the world’s largest underground iron-ore mine, in northern Sweden.

The miner implemented rail technology company Bombardier Transportation’s Interflo 150 train control technology to enable operations 1 365 m below the surface at the Kiruna iron-ore mine.

Bombardier provided the system – which is set to secure and increase production for the next 15 to 20 years – as a subcontractor to Midroc Electro, which is delivering a fully automatic process control and train transportation system to LKAB for the new mining level.

Sweden’s Enterprise Minister Annie Lööf, LKAB CEO and president Lars-Eric Aaro and LKAB chairperson Marcus Wallenberg attended the launch of the system.

The Kiruna mine, which has been in operation for more than 100 years, has, to date, mined an estimated 950-million tonnes of iron-ore. In previous reports, the company stated that this was only one-third of the full resource.

In the first quarter of this year, the mine produced 6.1-million tonnes of ore, which is set to increase as a result of ongoing expansions.

Aaro stated in LKAB’s interim report for the first quarter that the iron-ore market is growing and demand for direct reduction pellets for gas-based iron and steel production, in particular, is expected to grow in the next few years.

“The greatest growth is expected in Asia, with China as the principle economic locomotive. Over the past few years major investments have also been made in the iron-ore industry, mainly in Australia and Brazil, which means the supply of iron-ore will increase between 2013 and 2015.”

“If it is to continue as a preferred supplier, LKAB must be able to grow with its customers. The strategy for the next few years includes a volume increase of just over 35% to reach a yearly capacity of 37-million tonnes of iron-ore products by 2015,” the report states.

New Deepest Level
The company plans to roll out the deep-level mining in five stages. The first phase of mining at the new level consists of three groups of shafts, each comprising four ore passes, two train sets, a crusher and a skip hoist, as well as all media and automation needed to keep the level running.

“Essentially, the remaining four stages will involve the addition of more production areas; groups of shafts; rolling stock equipment, including trains, crushers and skip hoists; and further signalling to be completed by 2017,” explains LKAB project manager Hans Engberg.

Nearly 4.3-million cubic metres of rock, enough to fill seven Stockholm Globe Arenas, has been removed to make way for the new main level, which is expected to extend the working life of the mine by more than 20 years. The company also reports that more than 1 000 people, working for about 100 companies, have been involved in the construction of the new main level.

This represents the largest investment in the history of LKAB and will generate 35-million tonnes of crude ore a year, or 100 000 t/d.

“This is an unusual project, partly owing to its size, but also because it extends over such a long period. From the preproject phase to completion, it would take about 12 years. This has placed special demands on our organisation and planning.

“Now, we are just handing over the first stage for production but it seems that, so far, our ambition to create a safe, modern and cost-efficient mining system will be realised,” Engberg notes.

All stages will be completed by early 2017.

”It is exciting and rewarding to contribute to the improvement and development of an already fantastic company,” he concludes.
Interflo 150 Solution
Developed for industrial and underground mining railways, the Interflo 150 train control solution greatly enhances operations and capacity while increasing safety. “This project highlights how Bombardier’s innovative technology increases productivity and contributes to the development of the region and one of Sweden’s key industries,” Bombardier said in a release.

The driverless Interflo 150 computer-based system is also fully integrated with a mine’s loading and logistics systems and enables automatic route setting and dispatching.

Its moving block technology allows trains to operate safely with shorter headways and improves the use of track and rolling stock as well as energy efficiency and production capacity. Interfaces to production administration and weighing equipment in the track provide statistical input.

The scope of delivery at Kiruna also included two Bombardier EBI Screen traffic control centre systems, wayside equipment controlling 57 EBI Switch point machines and 180 balises.

Bombardier also supplied EBI Cab automatic train protection/operation onboard equipment for nine production and four service locomotives.

Swedish Mining Market
In February, Swedish trade asso-ciation SveMin reported that the country’s mining market is strong and geared for ongoing growth.

“The continuous demand on the global mineral and metal markets gives Sweden an extraordinary position with its favourable investment climate and mineral-rich bedrock. “‘Our vision of growth is that Sweden will triple its mining production by 2025. “This would create more than 50 000 new jobs,” the association stated.

Currently, about 10 000 people are directly employed in the mining industry, while a further 35 000 are indirectly employed as subcontractors and other service providers. A threefold increase in the mining industry would create 10 000 to 15 000 new direct jobs and between 30 000 and 45 000 indirect jobs.

“Most of the new jobs would be created outside urban areas. In other words, an expansion of the mining industry would benefit rural areas, especially in northern Sweden, where the majority of both existing mines and new projects are located,” it stated.

Based on the exploration carried out to date, iron-ore shows the greatest potential, where production volumes could more than triple by 2025, corresponding to 90-million tonnes of iron-ore products each year.

The country, which accounts for more than 90% of Europe’s iron-ore production, is also a significant producer of resources such as copper, zinc and silver.

“Volumes for other minerals could be doubled over the same period and continued exploration will generate additional deposits. The mining industry would then account for 3% to 5% of gross domestic product growth and over 20% of industrial investment in Sweden until 2025. In addition, mining output strongly contributes to increased employment in the country,” SveMin noted.