Mining

Eprioc's Pit Viper 275 E drilling rig. (Image source: Epiroc)

Epiroc of Sweden has secured a large order for autonomous and electric mining equipment in Africa

The undisclosed customer has ordered a fleet of Pit Viper 275 E blasthole drill rigs, with a value of around SEK 380mn (US$40mn), the company reported in a statement.

Eprioc, which describes itself as a leading productivity and sustainability partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, did not identify the customer or where the rigs would be deployed in Africa, but the sale highlights a growing interest in autonomous equipment across the mining industry and related sectors.

In its statement, the company noted that the machines are cable electric and will be operated fully autonomously, boosting safety and productivity while having zero exhaust emissions.

“Epiroc is on the forefront of mining automation and electrification,” said Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s president and CEO.

“This major order is another significant step forward in our journey to support customers to operate in the safest, most productive and most climate-friendly manner possible.”

The top-modern Pit Viper 275 E rig is the cable-electric version of the blasthole drill rig that has become a staple in the mining industry.

Its robust design and innovative features have made it a go-to solution for rotary blasthole drilling operations around the world.

Delivery of the equipment will begin shortly and is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

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Weir has been selected to supply its ENDURON high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) to Ivanhoe Mines’ Platreef Mine. (Image source: Weir)

Weir Group has been awarded a contract to supply its ENDURON high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) to Ivanhoe Mines for use at the Platreef Mine, supporting the project’s Phase 2 expansion

The HPGR circuit will form part of the concentrator’s tertiary crushing stage. The decision to incorporate this technology draws on its proven performance at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, which Ivanhoe Mines operates in partnership with Zijin Mining.

Situated roughly 280 km northeast of Johannesburg, the Platreef Mine represents one of the largest undeveloped precious metals deposits globally. Phase 1 production commenced in November 2025, while Phase 2 is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. Ivanhoe Mines is also planning a further expansion phase aimed at positioning Platreef among the world’s largest and lowest-cost producers of platinum group metals (PGMs).

ENDURON HPGR technology offers an energy-efficient comminution solution, using up to 40% less energy than conventional tumbling mills. This contributes to reduced operational costs and lower carbon emissions. The financial details of the contract have not been disclosed.

Bjorn Dierx, Weir, director of HPGR and Process, said, "Weir is delighted to be partnering with Ivanhoe Mines to supply our proven ENDURON HPGR technology. There has been a discernible trend in the mining sector towards reducing its environmental impact in recent years. The continued adoption of HPGR systems as the preferred solution for efficient, high-performance and sustainable ore processing provides one of the most significant opportunities in this regard."

"We have a large installed base of ENDURON HPGRs, and these orders reflect the strong confidence miners have in Weir’s advanced grinding technology and process expertise."

"Weir has always prioritised the service and support element of these partnerships. We understand the importance of being close to our customers and, in this case, we have a service centre less than 10km from the site to ensure we can provide immediate support during operations."

Steve Amos, Ivanhoe Mines, executive vice-president, projects, remarked, ‘HPGR technology is now fairly standard in the mining industry and has proven to be cost and energy efficient. Ivanhoe Mines has extensive HPGR operational experience gained from the three operating HPGRs at our Kamoa copper mine in DRC. We look forward to a successful and long-lasting partnership with Weir.’

Fibre boosts mining conveyor safety

In modern mining operations, safety challenges are intensifying as infrastructure becomes larger and more complex

Expanding conveyor networks, extensive underground systems and widely distributed electrical installations require reliable ways to transmit and verify shutdown commands across long distances.

According to Ian Loudon, international sales and marketing at Omniflex, fibre optic technology is playing an increasingly important role in ensuring these critical safety communications remain dependable.

Conveyor systems remain central to the extraction, movement and processing of coal, yet they also present significant operational and safety risks. Over time, mining operations have expanded dramatically. Conveyor belts that once ran only a few hundred metres can now stretch for several kilometres, often traversing difficult terrain or operating deep underground. Maintaining safe operations across these extended distances requires robust emergency signalling, rapid shutdown capability and confirmation that commands have been successfully executed.

In many mines, conveyor belts can run between 20 and 30 km, incorporating multiple drive motors, synchronised programmable logic controllers and various loading or discharge stations along the route. If a fault develops at any point in this system, the potential for operational disruption or safety incidents increases significantly.

Historically, copper cabling was used to transmit safety signals, but this technology was not designed for the extended distances now typical in large mining operations. Over spans of 10 to 30 kilometres, copper wiring can suffer from signal degradation, voltage drops and electromagnetic interference generated by nearby electrical equipment such as motors, drives and switching systems. When repeaters are introduced to maintain signal strength, the overall system becomes more complex and vulnerable to additional points of failure.

These limitations mean copper-based signalling is increasingly unsuitable for modern mining environments, particularly those with long-distance infrastructure or heavy electrical activity. Extended copper runs are highly susceptible to electromagnetic interference and voltage loss, while attempts to extend signal transmission beyond roughly 10 kilometres generally require additional converters or amplification equipment. Underground conditions can further weaken signals, as dense rock formations and heavy electrical installations disrupt communication paths.

Another major drawback of traditional systems is their reliance on one-way signalling. When a shutdown command is issued, operators often only know that the instruction has been sent, not whether it has been received or executed. In situations involving critical equipment such as conveyors, crushers or ventilation systems, this uncertainty can create serious safety risks.

Fibre optic technology strengthens safety systems

To overcome the reliability challenges associated with copper cabling and conventional shutdown circuits, many mining operators are now adopting fibre optic communication for safety-critical applications. Fibre technology offers several important advantages in demanding mining environments. It is immune to electromagnetic interference, does not generate sparks and can reliably transmit contact signals across distances of 20 to 30 kilometres.

These characteristics make fibre particularly suitable for long conveyor systems, deep underground transport routes and electrically intense environments such as substations. By eliminating many of the vulnerabilities associated with traditional wiring systems, fibre optic networks provide a more resilient foundation for safety communications.

A key shift in modern safety strategies is the move from simply issuing a shutdown command to confirming that the action has actually taken place. In mining operations, the difference between a command being sent and a shutdown being verified can be critical. Without confirmation, equipment could continue operating despite problems such as a damaged conveyor belt, a stalled crusher or unsafe gas levels.

Specialised fibre optic devices designed for safety-critical applications support this approach. These include Safety Integrity Level rated bidirectional contact repeaters that replicate contact signals over long distances while simultaneously providing monitoring and feedback. Such systems transmit both the shutdown command and confirmation of the resulting action through the same optical link, allowing operators to verify the response in real time.

This architecture reduces uncertainty, simplifies wiring requirements and helps ensure compliance with mine safety protocols covering emergency shutdowns, isolation procedures and interlock systems.

As mining operations continue to expand and electrical systems become increasingly distributed, fibre optic signalling provides a reliable method of maintaining control across large and complex environments. Instead of relying on assumptions that commands have been executed, operators gain direct confirmation that machinery has stopped and systems have entered a safe state.

This level of verification supports stronger safety practices across the industry, reflecting a broader transition toward systems that confirm safety outcomes rather than simply issuing commands.

With extensive experience in long-distance and safety-critical environments, Omniflex has developed fibre optic modules designed to support bidirectional contact replication, auxiliary confirmation and fail-safe operation. These systems have been implemented in industries such as mining, nuclear power and electrical infrastructure where operational reliability and verified safety are essential.

The Mozal aluminium smeltter in Mozambique (Image source: South32)

Mining and metals group South32 Limited has confirmed that the Mozal aluminium smelter in Mozambique has been placed on ‘care and maintenance’ from 15 March after it failed to secure affordable power supplies for the plant

Its existing energy tariff is due to expire at the end of March, and negotiations have failed to agree on a new price that would allow the facility to continue operating sustainably.

As a result, South32, which is listed in South Africa, Australia and the UK, has mothballed the facility at considerable cost while longer-term options are assessed.

One-off costs to place Mozal into care and maintenance, including employee separation costs and the termination of contracting arrangements, are estimated at approximately US$60mn.

Ongoing annual care and maintenance costs are expected to be approximately US$5mn, according to a South32 statement released on 16 March, 2026.

“Over the past six years we have engaged extensively with the government of the Republic of Mozambique, Eskom and other key stakeholders, but were unable to secure sufficient and affordable power supply for Mozal beyond March 2026,” said Graham Kerr, South32’s CEO.

“While this is not the outcome we wanted, we are proud of the history and significant contribution Mozal has made to the local community and the Mozambican economy over its 25 years of operation.”

The statement added that alumina supplied from the company’s Worsley Alumina refinery to Mozal will now be sold to third-party customers at index-linked prices.

Located near Maputo, the Mozal smelter produced high-quality primary aluminium for both domestic and export markets.

South32 holds 63.7% of Mozal, alongside the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited (32.4%) and the Mozambique government (3.9%).

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