During a recent business forum at the ‘Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue,’ Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), the diversified natural resources group headquartered in Luxembourg, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with Japan’s Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM), the global producer of construction and mining equipment, and its official distributor in Central Asia, Eurasian Machinery LLP.
Hitachi Construction Machinery will supply ERG with modified diesel-electric drive EH4000 mining dump trucks to operate at the Kacharsky iron ore mine in Kazakhstan. which will help enable ERG to achieve its environmental management goals. The MoU will enable Hitachi’s EH4000 mining dump trucks to run on electricity via trolley assist.
The electrification of ERG’s truck fleet will substantially reduce local carbon emissions at the Kacharsky mine site. The company will also undertake a long-term contract for a full range of services, including the development of servicing infrastructure, and the supply of spare parts and large components.
ERG told IM: “We have analysed the conversion of 42 Hitachi EH4000 dump trucks into trolley trucks and the creation of a trolley infrastructure in the Kacharsky mine. We are currently evaluating in detail the economic feasibility. The total length of the trolley lines should be 9.9 km. Factory-built 220 t Hitachi EH4000 dump trucks can be converted into trolley trucks. So it creates an opportunity to operate in two modes: diesel mode and trolley line mode. When the trolley line mode is activated, the power transmission from the diesel engine is switched off, the pantograph is lifted and connected to the trolley line as a power source, and the power is supplied to the hub motors.”
The MoU will be facilitated by Hitachi’s regional distribution partner, Eurasian Machinery, and it will support the development of ESG-focused construction practices across ERG’s global operations. The MoU was signed by the Chairman of ERG’s Board of Directors, Shukhrat Ibragimov, the CEO of Eurasian Machinery, Mehmet Kemal Cetinelli, and the President of Hitachi Construction Machinery Co, Masafumi Senzaki.
To further improve economic and environmental performance, the partners have outlined plans to conduct joint feasibility studies, to support the full electrification of ERG’s mining fleet.
In addition, a second MoU has been announced between ERG and Japan’s Mitsui & Co. ERG intends to upgrade up to 30% of its truck fleet by purchasing Komatsu equipment through KOMEK Machinery Kazakhstan LLP. The MoU also envisages collaboration to achieve ‘green’ ferrochrome production targets. Mitsui plans to conduct a feasibility study for a potential wind power development project for ERG.
Commenting on the signed MoUs, Chairman of ERG’s Board of Directors, Shukhrat Ibragimov, said: “International cooperation on this scale will give new impetus to the development of our company in line with the ESG agenda. We aim to not only improve our business practices, but to ensure that our businesses are in line with the highest global standards. The priority is to ensure smooth operations and achieve production targets while complying fully with safety rules and operating in a responsible manner. We are convinced that this will be reflected in the quality of our products while contributing to the development of Kazakhstan’s economy.”
