Major gold miner Gold Fields has signed a formal collaboration agreement with manufacturer Epiroc to develop and test a hybrid diesel-electric version of a 65-tonne-payload underground mine truck. They aim to have a prototype working in Western Australia in about 12 months.
Gold Fields said a project team would work with Epiroc’s Orebro, Sweden-based underground research and development group to advance work on the truck and plan trial activity.
It hopes to have the prototype in action at its Granny Smith mine at the beginning of 2024.
The two companies say a diesel-electric vehicle, combining a traditional combustion engine with an electric drive system, could significantly reduce diesel use across a fleet.
