• Share

Mining with principles at Boliden's Aitik mine in Sweden

4 November 2021

As the suppliers of the minerals and metals that are critical to decarbonisation and sustainable development, the mining and metals industry has a particular responsibility to minimise the impact of its operations on the environment.

Reducing GHG emissions requires new ways of working and myriad new technologies to transform how mining operations recover the natural resources that society depends on. One way that ICMM members can reduce their emissions is through the electrification of their transportation systems. Boliden, for example, has installed trolley assist technology at its Aitik copper mine in Sweden, as a step towards its vision of fossil fuel-free operations.

Starting out as a trial project to test the all-weather potential of the technology, in a region where temperatures can reach -40C, the around 700-metre long trolley line is being extended by 3km to cover more of the mine site. The project is also to be replicated at a second Boliden operation. Similar technology is planned for Boliden’s Kevitsa nickel mine in Finland, which when completed, will cover a 1.8km stretch of road. It is estimated that through the adoption of trolley assist technology, overall diesel consumption will reduce by 5,500,000 litres a year when completed.

ICMM members are taking action to decarbonise the way they operate, to not only reduce their impact on climate change but also support the decarbonisation of the value chains of others. This is just one way that they are mining with principles to improve their environmental performance and contribute to realising the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Climate Agreement.