Modern Mining April 2015

COVER STORY

Husab mining operation

Above: A Komatsu 960E-2KT electric dump truck (EDT) at Husab, one of a fleet of 23 of the units deployed at the mine. Right: A Komatsu 960E-2KT tips its load. The payload of the 960E-2KT is 327 tonnes. Below right: An 85 000-litre capacity Komatsu water tanker refills at Husab. The total size of the Komatsu fleet at the mine is in excess of 50 machines. “Using electrical power on gradients will reduce a truck’s total fuel consumption by a factor of 40 % or more. But what is hugely sig- nificant in terms of improved cycle times is that – by switching to trolley assist – trucks can haul at speeds of up to 26 km/h instead of 12 km/h in diesel mode.” The installation of the trolley system at Husab will be completed by 2017, when the mine is scheduled to be fully operational. The might of the 960E-2KT The 960E-2KT in use at Husab is visually impressive. The unit stands 9,3 m tall, is 15,3 m long and 10 m wide, making it hardly surpris- ing that it will carry payloads of up to 327 metric tonnes from the pit. Bulk is however deceptive as the truck

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