Epiroc AB has just inked its largest contract ever, a monumental deal that could reshape the future of surface mining. The Swedish firm, a stalwart in mining and construction productivity solutions, will supply Fortescue, the Australian mining behemoth, with a fleet of fully autonomous and electric surface mining equipment. This isn’t just a transaction; it’s a statement of intent from both companies, a bold stride towards a more sustainable and technologically advanced mining industry.
The contract, valued at a staggering AUS$350 million (SEK2.2 billion) over five years, is a testament to Fortescue’s ambitious decarbonisation goals. The order includes Epiroc’s Pit Viper 271 E, a cable-electric blasthole drill rig, and the SmartROC D65 BE, a battery-electric drill rig. These machines, destined for Fortescue’s iron ore mines in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, will operate autonomously, overseen from a control centre in Perth, over 1,500 km away. This level of automation and electrification is unprecedented in surface mining, and it’s set to eliminate a whopping 35 million litres of diesel consumption annually.
Epiroc’s President and CEO, Helena Hedblom, hailed the contract as a significant milestone. “Fortescue is at the forefront of the mining industry in reducing emissions from operations, and in using automation to strengthen safety and productivity,” she said. “We are proud to support them on this important effort.” Hedblom’s words underscore the strategic importance of this deal. It’s not just about the size of the contract; it’s about the direction it points the industry towards.
Fortescue’s CEO, Dino Otranto, echoed this sentiment. “We’re thrilled to be joining forces with Epiroc to bring cutting-edge electric mining equipment into our operations,” he said. Fortescue aims to replace around 800 pieces of heavy mining equipment with zero-emissions alternatives by the end of the decade, alongside deploying 2-3GW of renewable energy and battery storage across the Pilbara. This deal is a significant step towards that goal.
The machines themselves are a marvel of modern engineering. The Pit Viper 271 E, manufactured in Texas, offers zero emissions and a patented cable feed system that prolongs component longevity and reduces operational costs. The SmartROC D65 BE, produced in Örebro, Sweden, combines the experience gained from Epiroc’s underground battery rigs with the intelligent features of the original SmartROC D65.
This deal isn’t just about Fortescue and Epiroc; it’s about the future of mining. It’s about proving that large-scale, autonomous, electric mining operations are not just possible, but profitable. It’s about challenging the status quo and pushing the industry towards a more sustainable future. It’s about sparking debate and inspiring other companies to follow suit. The mining industry is at a crossroads, and deals like this could very well shape the path it takes. The question is, who will follow Fortescue and Epiroc’s lead? The future of mining hangs in the balance, and every contract, every innovation, every bold step forward matters.
