PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Mining major BHP has unveiled a fully electric Jumbo at its Olympic Dam operations, in South Australia, to support the company’s target to reduce operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including by minimising reliance on diesel.

The 28.7 t, 14.5-m-long battery-electric Epiroc Boomer M2 “Jumbo” will be powered by a 150 kW traction motor and 150 kW battery system, eliminating GHG emissions from diesel. It will be tested for efficiency, productivity and comfort over the 12-month trial period.

Jumbos are used in underground mining development to drill holes, which are then loaded with explosives and open up new areas. Post-blasting Jumbos install large bolts to stabilise mine walls. BHP currently operates 16 Epiroc Jumbos at Olympic Dam.

The miner said on Monday that the fully-electric Jumbo will also break new ground in its user experience by reducing noise and vibration, and eliminating heat and the emissions of diesel particulate matter (PM).

“The world is going to need a lot more of South Australia’s high quality copper, and the team at Olympic Dam is behind our push to produce that copper more sustainably,” Olympic Dam GM Andrew Harris said.

“Collaboration with supply partners like Epiroc will be critical to developing the technology required to reduce emissions, while ensuring we continue to improve the safety and productivity of our operations. I can’t wait to see what this new fully-electric Jumbo can do.”

BHP group procurement officer James Agar said the fully electric Jumbo is yet another innovation that will support the company’s progress towards achieving its medium-term target of reducing operational GHG emissions by 30% by 2030.

Approximately 40% of BHP’s operational emissions in its 2020 baseline year came from diesel-powered vehicles.

The trial of the Jumbo also supports BHP’s efforts to minimise the operational impact of diesel PM in underground mining operations by 2025, as part of BHP’s participation in the International Council on Mining and Metals’ Innovation for Cleaner, Safer Vehicles initiative, the miner said.

The fully electric Jumbo trial builds on electric vehicle initiatives at Nickel West in Western Australia, Olympic Dam in South Australia and BMA’s Broadmeadow mine in Queensland. BHP is also collaborating with vehicle manufacturers Caterpillar and Komatsu to develop zero-emissions electrified haul trucks, and battery-electric locomotives with Wabtec Corporation and Progress Rail.