Ivanplats: Construction of first solar power plant now underway

Ivanplats initial order with Epiroc of Stockholm, Sweden, for its primary mining fleet includes emissions-free, battery-electric jumbo face drill rigs, 14-tonne battery scooptrams, battery-electric bolting rigs and 42-tonne battery dump trucks.

Ivanplats has received Platreef’s first battery powered underground equipment; a ST14 scooptram and a Manitou MHTX 790 telehandler, which have successfully been slung down to the 950-metre level.

Construction of Platreef’s initial solar-power plant is scheduled to commence in August 2022, with commissioning expected in 2023. The solar-generated power from the initial plant will be used for mine development and construction activities, as well as for charging Platreef’s battery-powered underground mining fleet.

“Ivanhoe Mines is committed to being an ESG leader and the implementation of electric vehicles and solar-generated power at Platreef aligns with our goals of limiting emissions and environmental impacts,” commented Executive Vice President, Technical Services, Pierre Joubert. “We plan to continue to assess and implement leading-edge renewable technologies across our world-scale mineral portfolio.”