Existing mines that want to go deeper are looking at battery technology, says Andrew Lyon, General Manager for Atlas Copco Mining and Rock Excavation.
Lyon, who spoke to MINING.com at the CIM convention in May, was introducing his company’s new battery operated Scooptram 7. Lowering the overall operating and capital cost of the mine is what’s driving battery adoption.
As well as existing mines, Lyon said that new mines are being considered that will use battery technology entirely. “Currently the mines that are talking to us are about to go deeper,” says Lyon. “They want to continue their mine life without having to put more capital into ventilation infrastructure, which is incredibly expensive.
“Other mining operators are talking to us about new mines that will be all battery, which is going to enable them to enter in the market and operate the mine cheaper again because of lower ventilation costs.”
MINING.com Who are you?
Andrew Lyon: Hi I am Andrew Lyon, General Manager for Atlas Copco Mining and Rock Excavation here in Canada.
For the rest of this interview, click here: http://www.mining.com/two-types-mine-operators-looking-battery-technology/