There are now 18 extended-range hybrid autonomous rigid wide-body mining trucks running without a safety monitor in the cabin at China Coal Group’s Biesikuduke open-pit mine in Xinjiang province. These are ‘new energy’ TG136HA units, which have only recently been launched and were independently designed by Tage Idriver and developed with OEM partner SDLG.
The Biesikuduke open-pit mine is the only mine producing silicon coal in China – silicon coal has a higher silicon content than other coal types and can be used to produce silicon. Operations are challenging in winter as it is located in a very cold region, with the lowest temperature recorded of -43.6℃. Also operationally is is an inclined coal seam, so is more difficult to mine.
Tage Idriver says with the use of the unmanned and new energy mining vehicles, safety of production is reinforced, while the annual costs of fuel and labour will be reduced significantly. The autonomous haulage system can greatly reduce the production cost through the operation and maintenance technology covering vehicles’ whole life cycle. It is estimated that the project has to potential to reduce carbon emissions by 1,800 t per year and save millions of yuan in fuel every year, compared with traditional diesel mining vehicles.
The TG136HA can carry more than 100 tons, making it one of the largest wide-body mining trucks in China. The extended-range hybrid technology has been adopted to reduce the comprehensive energy consumption by over 30%. A rigid integrated frame makes the vehicle durable and able to handle complex working conditions in mining areas. A high-powered battery allows the truck to carry more and to accelerate faster. While this fleet of trucks uses a battery and diesel engine hybrid design, Tage Idriver adds that it can customise the truck to also use natural gas, methanol or hydrogen.
The company told IM that the model has been widely welcomed in the Chinese market owing to its flexibility, energy saving and durability. It argues that it is also very suitable for the global mines as it meets demands for carbon emission reduction as well as skilled operator shortages. Currently, Tage Idriver says it is introducing the model to the global market, including but not limited to southeast Asia, South America and Africa.
The TG136HA is jointly manufactured by Tage Idriver and SDLG. SDLG is one of the Chinese OEMs actively introducing large-tonnage wide-body mine trucks into the international market, and has also built a world-leading digital intelligent manufacturing plant. On the basis of the TG136HA, the two sides have launched a strategic cooperation in research & development, mining services and market expansion.
Tage Idriver has currently deployed over 400 autonomous mining trucks including factory-installed and retrofitted trucks whose tonnage classes range from 60 tons to 400 tons. It has implemented over 20 autonomous projects across coal and metal mines as well as aggregate and industrial minerals quarries. As of today, trucks equipped with its autonomous technology have run without an accident for nearly 6 million hours. It adds that it achieved a world first with 5G-based autonomous haulage at the Bayan Obo iron ore mine, and says it was the first in China to achieve routine unmanned fleet operation. One of its benchmark projects is the world’s highest autonomous haulage fleet at Zijin Mining Group’s Julong copper mine at an altitude of over 5,300 m in Tibet, China.
