Press Release 2024-09-04
Snells Entreprenad AB has reached an agreement with Nordkust Maskin AB regarding the purchase of battery-powered haul trucks. These haul trucks could become the first fully battery-operated haul trucks in a Swedish mine and will be used to transport raw materials in LKAB’s mine in Svappavaara.
Earlier this summer, Snells Entreprenad entered into a four-year agreement with LKAB for raw material transportation, stock handling, and machinery services in Svappavaara, starting January 1, 2025. The first haul trucks are expected to be delivered concurrently with the commencement of the contract.
The agreement with Nordkust Maskin begins with a testing phase, during which the performance of the haul trucks will be evaluated under the specific conditions in Svappavaara. If the test proves successful, all haul truck operations under the contract will be battery-operated starting in the fall of 2025, making this solution unique in the Swedish mining industry.
— The procurement includes requirements for innovative solutions that reduce the operational impact on climate and the environment. Fuel for transportation is naturally a significant part of this. Battery technology cannot yet replace all types of transport in mines, but under the right conditions, transport can be powered by batteries. For this assignment, there are conditions that allow for this, as a large portion of the loaded transport occurs downhill, enabling greater use of the haul trucks own charge than if the load were always transported uphill, says Magnus Pekkari, CEO of Snells Entreprenad.
Nordkust Maskin, a dealer and service partner for SANY Northern Europe AB, is working closely with Snells to ensure efficient operation and planning of the transports.
— We are proud to offer SANY’s products, which benefit from China’s leading position in battery technology and the competitive advantages this brings. Although their solutions are well-proven globally, battery-powered haul trucks have not yet been used in a Swedish mine, and there is no comparable solution within the Swedish mining industry, despite the significant need for electrification to achieve fossil-free mining, says Johan Gustafsson, CEO of Nordkust Maskin.
— For several years, we have been working to find solutions that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels in various ways. All our crushers can be powered by electricity, but it has been more challenging to find electric or battery solutions for the large machines we use in the mines. We have excavators that can consume up to 140 liters of diesel per hour in full production. So it is clear that the need for alternatives is significant, says Magnus Pekkari.
The machinery industry has traditionally not prioritized battery power for heavy vehicles. However, the rapid development of battery technology and improvements in capacity are opening up new possibilities for the future.
— We are small players in this context, but if we don’t start somewhere, nothing will happen. We really hope that the collaboration with Nordkust and the use of battery-powered haul trucks will be successful. It would mean a lot, both for us and for the entire mining industry if we succeed, concludes Magnus Pekkari.
For more information, please contact:
Magnus Pekkari
CEO, Snells Entreprenad
070-390 89 17
Johan Gustafsson
CEO, Nordkust Maskin
072-599 19 11
