Normet Variomec XS at Boliden Somincor: electrification trial insights for mine engineers
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell
First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
Boliden’s Somincor zinc and copper operations in Portugal are about to trial their first battery-electric production support unit, a Normet Variomec XS 035 Crew SD mine service vehicle delivered this week after being showcased at The Electric Mine in Lisbon. The compact XS 035 platform is configured for crew transport and general services, targeting reduced diesel emissions and heat in deep workings. Results from this trial will inform Somincor’s wider electrification strategy for auxiliary fleets and associated ventilation load reductions.
Technical Brief
- Machine was transported roughly 2.5 hours by road from Lisbon’s FIL exhibition centre to site.
Our Take
Boliden’s SEK 4 billion hoist electrification at Garpenberg and the ‘green fleets’ roll-out across its copper, nickel and zinc operations indicate that Somincor’s BEV trial fits into a group-wide strategy to cut diesel haulage, not just a site-level experiment in Portugal.
The nearby self-consumption solar unit developed with EDP and Greenvolt for Neves-Corvo implies that any successful Normet BEV deployment at Somincor could be powered with a higher share of on-site renewables, strengthening Boliden Somincor’s decarbonisation credentials in Alentejo.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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