Epiroc put the Boomer E2 Battery drill rig, Scooptram ST14 Battery underground loader and Minetruck MT42 Battery through their paces at Europe's largest gold operation in Finland' subarctic North.

Agnico Eagle Finland and Epiroc are participating in the European Union's Sustainable Intelligent Mining Systems (SIMS) project, with Epiroc acting as SIMS coordinator. SIMS is the mining industry-specific part of the EU's Horizon 2020 research and innovation initiative.

Epiroc's electrification transformation lead, Franck Boudreault said: "Our machines have been performing very well, delivering high reliability, increased performance and a battery autonomy that has been according to expectations." 

Andre Van Wageningen, manager of technology and development at Kittilä added: "The collaboration with Epiroc has been great and Epiroc has taken away all the concerns we had regarding battery electric equipment."

Agnico Eagle Finland placed an order for two Boltec E Battery rigs from Epiroc earlier this year.

Epiroc aims to offer its complete range of underground mining equipment as battery electric versions by 2025.

"Our advances in zero-emission, battery-electric equipment, as well as automation and information management, have established us as a key driver behind the technology that is shaping the future of sustainable mining" said Sami Niiranen, president at Epiroc's Underground division.

"This project is aligned with our ambition to deliver the world's greenest machines and establishing ourselves as a leading provider of zero-emission battery-electric vehicles."