PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Gold Fields and equipment manufacturer Epiroc have struck a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to partner on the development of a diesel-electric mine truck.

The truck will combine a traditional combustion engine with electric drive system technology, providing the opportunity to significantly reduce the amount of diesel used across a mine's fleet and increase operational productivity.

Under the MoU, the two companies will develop and test a proof of concept for the Minetruck MT65 E-Drive and are hoping to have a prototype at Gold Fields' Granny Smith mine, in Western Australia, at the start of 2024. 

“Gold Fields is committed to its decarbonisation targets and we have been a leader in the Australian mining sector at integrating renewable energy and battery storage into our operations. This agreement with Epiroc broadens that emissions reduction focus to our underground vehicles and equipment,” said Gold Fields executive VP Stuart Mathews.

"We are pleased to be partnering with a company like Epiroc who are investing in technical solutions that support our target of reducing carbon emissions while maximising our potential from current assets like Granny Smith through innovative solutions.”

The Gold Fields project team will now work with Epiroc's research and developemnt team in the underground division, in Sweden, to review development and plan the trial phases.

“Epiroc has set ambitious sustainability goals for 2030 including halving our carbon dioxide emissions, and our innovation agenda goes hand in hand with our customers' sustainability agenda," said Epiroc underground division president Sami Niiranen.

"We are proud to partner with Gold Fields in the development of a future-proof, low emission mine truck in the large segment that will support them in reducing their emissions as well as overall total cost of ownership, without compromising on safety and productivity.”