Epiroc wins large order from Canadian mine

Epiroc, a Swedish manufacturer of mining and infrastructure equipment and technology, said it has won a large order for equipment, including battery-electric machines and automation solutions, from the Canadian Malartic Partnership. The machines will used in a major new underground gold mine currently under construction.

Epiroc’s Boltec M10 Battery rock reinforcement rig is part of the order by the Canadian Malartic Partnership. (Photo: Epiroc)

Epiroc defines a large order as being at least SEK 100 million ($10.5 million) in value.

The equipment ordered includes battery-electric versions of the Boltec rock reinforcement drill rig, Simba production drill rig, and Boomer face drilling rig (jumbo). It also includes an Easer raise boring rig, Scooptram loaders, and Minetruck haulers. The machines will be equipped with Epiroc’s telematics system Certiq, which allows for intelligent monitoring of machine performance and productivity in real time.

The Canadian Malartic Partnership is constructing the Odyssey Mine in Malartic, Québec, Canada, which will become one of Canada’s largest gold mines. The ordered equipment includes a variety of drill rigs, loaders and mine trucks. Some of the machines will be battery powered Epiroc said.

Automation features include Minetruck Automation and Scooptram Automation, which are part of Epiroc’s 6th Sense portfolio of digital solutions. By combining these solutions with Epiroc’s Traffic Management System, material handling is optimized within the mine, bringing benefits such as virtually eliminating the risk of collisions, the company said.

“The Canadian Malartic Partnership is taking a massive next step with the new underground mine where our battery-electric and other advanced machines with state-of-the-art automation and traffic management solutions will help optimize safety and productivity,” said Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO. “Epiroc and the Canadian Malartic Partnership have a history of successful cooperation, and we look forward to continue contributing to their success.”

The equipment order also includes education and training using sophisticated simulators. This is the second equipment order from the Canadian Malartic Partnership. Epiroc also won a large order for drill rigs, loaders, and mine trucks in the third quarter of 2021. Epiroc will also provide service and spare parts, as well as expertise on electrification solutions.

The Odyssey Mine is located just west of the Canadian Malartic Partnership’s open-pit gold mine, which is still in operation, and to which Epiroc in previous years has provided powerful Pit Viper surface drill rigs.

“Over the years, Epiroc has clearly demonstrated its willingness to be a leader in the technical evolution of mining equipment, whether in electrification or automation,” said Patrick Mercier, general manager of the Odyssey Mine. “Obviously, this transition will not happen by itself.

“We are privileged that Epiroc has proposed us a collaborative approach in order to effectively integrate their equipment into the Odyssey Mine and actively participate in this evolution. The benefits from this collaboration will contribute to making mines even safer and jobs more accessible in the field.”

The Canadian Malartic Partnership is a 50/50 partnership between Yamana Gold Inc. and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited.