While the US is still stuck debating EVs, the rest of the world has already plugged in and charged ahead – and nowhere is that more obvious than Africa, where one country has banned ICE vehicles outright and another is rapidly electrifying mines that are digging up the future.
Swedish mining equipment manufacturer Epiroc has secured a Skr380m (~$40 million) contract to supply a fleet of Pit Viper 275 E electric blast hole drill rigs to an undisclosed customer in Africa, where the fully remote- and autonomously-operated machines will are expected to being enhancing safety and productivity while eliminating on-site exhaust and carbon emissions.
“Epiroc is on the forefront of mining automation and electrification,” explains Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s global president and CEO. “(This) major order is another significant step forward in our journey to support customers to operate in the safest, most productive and most climate-friendly manner possible.”
Epiroc plans to begin construction of the new electric drill rigs soon, with completion, delivery, and deployment of the full order anticipated by the close of 2027.
Africa gets it
Africa is quietly emerging as a leader in large-scale electrification, helped (not hindered) by the lack of a fully entrenched petroleum infrastructure and an abundance of sunny skies to power what comes next.
Ethiopia gets it, and fully banned the importation and sale of new, internal combustion-powered vehicles two years ago while other nations like Zambia are deploying massive battery electric equipment options (like the big LiuGong shown, above) in heavy mining and construction projects as part of broader, multinational efforts to electrify everything.
“The overseas cooperation [is] the first large-scale deployment of electric mining trucks at one go to a mining project in Africa,” Li Wenjie, chairman of the construction trade division of China 15th Metallurgical Construction Group, told AfricaNews. “It will help further upgrade the local mining equipment.”
Keeping Zambia’s mining operations rolling is critical as the global demand for African minerals rises. The nation’s economy is on track to grow 6% this year, driven by 820,000 tons of copper exports that reaffirmed the mining sector’s critical role. To support that role, China has pledged up to $5 billion in investments across Zambia’s copper and cobalt sectors through 2031.
As for the Epiroc Pit Viper itself, the company notes that the cable-connected machine a staple in the mining industry that’s known for its, “unmatched performance and unwavering reliability. Its robust design and innovative features have solidified its position as a go-to solution for rotary blasthole drilling operations.”
Sounds good to me. Let us know what you think of the latest Epiroc deal, and what (if anything) it says about Africa’s ability to charge ahead of America in the years ahead.
SOURCES: Epiroc, via Mining Technology.
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