Perenti and Sandvik have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop innovative diesel-electric equipment for underground mines.
The MoU, signed at MINExpo 2024, aims to improve sustainability, efficiency, and productivity in underground mining operations.
The agreement focuses on optimising diesel-electric loaders and trucks, with Perenti’s underground mining business, Barminco, playing a key role in refining Sandvik’s technology.
The partnership will generate valuable insights to enhance Barminco’s operations and contribute to the advancement of Sandvik’s diesel-electric solutions.
The initial phase of the collaboration will involve establishing a shared vision for optimising Sandvik’s machines to meet Perenti’s operational requirements.
Perenti will contribute to the design process and provide feedback during various testing stages, including pre-factory, operational, and trial testing.
“We are constantly looking for ways to improve the working environment and boost underground safety, efficiency and sustainability,” Perenti managing director and chief executive officer Mark Norwell said.
“Diesel-electric equipment has the potential to do this.
“Collaborating with our partners is a critical step in the process, and we believe that working with Sandvik enables us to benefit from cutting-edge technology and also play a role in shaping the equipment that the wider industry will be using tomorrow, that’s good for us and it’s good for our customers.”
Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions president Mats Eriksson said Perenti’s contribution will be key.
“Perenti, through its businesses including Barminco, is one of the world’s leading mining services providers, and can provide us with design suggestions and fantastic insights into real-world mining conditions,” he said.
“Together, we can create equipment optimised for Perenti’s working conditions while also developing the most advanced diesel-electric machines available anywhere in the world.”
This partnership aligns with the broader industry shift towards cleaner, more reliable, and sustainable mining practices.
Diesel-electric equipment combines the benefits of diesel power with the flexibility and lower maintenance of electric machinery, offering a potential path to decarbonisation without requiring full structural changes to underground operations.
Diesel-electric machines usually have a diesel engine that drives a generator which in turn provides electricity to motors responsible for movement and operating equipment.
Unlike traditional diesel motors, electric ones generally have no torque converter and few rotating components, allowing for a more flexible design, requiring less maintenance and enabling lower operational costs.
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