Meglab designs, manufactures and supports electrification and telecommunications infrastructure such as switchgear, substations and automation system solutions in underground mines.

Its solutions provide the infrastructure needed for mine electrification and equipment charging solutions as well as the digitalisation and automation of operations. Just the sort of things a miner might need if it is considering switching to battery-electric vehicles.

Epiroc president and CEO Helena Hedblom said the Meglab acquisition would strengthen Epiroc's capacity to provide the infrastructure needed as mines transition to battery-electric vehicles.

 

Epiroc and its competitor Sandvik are both members of the Electric Mine Consortium, an Australian initiative that also includes South32, OZ Minerals, IGO, Gold Fields Australia, Barminco, Dassault, Western Australian utility Horizon Power, Hahn Electrical, Energy Vault, Safescape and 3ME Technologies.

Besides the operational constraints battery-electric trucks and loaders suffer at the moment, another issue miners have is getting the right infrastructure in place to keep them charged.

The Epiroc-Meglab deal is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2021.

When the deal is done Meglab will become part of Epiroc's Parts & Services division and remain based in Canada.

Canadian miners have been early adopters of battery-electric equipment, but in another important market, Australia, miners have not been so keen. The equipment available at the moment is just not big enough, and there are also range anxiety issues. 

Most of Australia's underground mines use declines. Battery-electric vehicles struggle with declines.