Electric equipment changes more than emissions

For decades, underground mining has been shaped by diesel. Ventilation systems, energy use, infrastructure, and mine layout have all been built around the need to manage exhaust gases and heat. Electrification removes that constraint. Without diesel emissions, ventilation requirements can be significantly reduced. This is not only a sustainability benefit. It is a fundamental design opportunity.

In underground mines, ventilation can account for up to 30–50% of total energy consumption. At the same time, many operations face constraints in their electrical infrastructure when scaling up electric fleets. Reducing ventilation demand can lower overall energy consumption and free up electrical capacity that can be allocated across the operation, including for charging battery-electric equipment. This supports electrification within existing power infrastructure, while also lowering operating costs and increasing flexibility.

As mines go deeper to meet growing demand for minerals, ventilation becomes even more complex and expensive. Electrification changes that equation. Instead of scaling ventilation to match depth and production, mines can rethink how air, energy, and infrastructure are used from the start.

 

Electric equipment also generates less heat and noise. The difference is noticeable. Operators experience a quieter, cleaner, and less physically demanding environment. For many, returning to diesel is no longer an option. This shift is not only about comfort. It has implications for safety, health, and long-term workforce sustainability.

Charging infrastructure, power distribution, and energy management become central to how a mine operates. How and where machines are charged directly affects productivity. Power must be available at the right place and at the right time. This is where redesign becomes essential.

 

"Rather than simply adding electric machines to existing operations, electrification creates an opportunity to optimize the entire system. Charging strategies can be coordinated across fleets. Power can be balanced dynamically, and energy storage can support operations where grid capacity is limited," says Åsa Lafleuriel.

 

It is also essential that infrastructure is designed to scale as fleets grow and technology evolves. Performance is changing rapidly. Charging times are decreasing. Machine runtime is increasing. What is possible today will look different in just a few years. Designing for flexibility becomes just as important as designing for current needs. An OEM-agnostic charging infrastructure gives mines the flexibility to integrate equipment from different manufacturers within the same charging ecosystem.

 

“Electrification is not a single upgrade. It is a shift that affects ventilation, energy systems, infrastructure, working conditions, and productivity at the same time. It enables a different kind of mine,” concludes Åsa Lafleuriel.