Industrial, Sourcing Renewables  -  August 13, 2021

Twin Metals Plans EV Mining Fleet Conversion

Twin Metals Minnesota announced Aug. 12 that it plans to transition its underground mining and support fleets to electric vehicles, a project that could reduce its onsite greenhouse gas emissions by 65%.

The St. Paul-based mining company expects the transition to battery-electric technology to also decrease the energy needed for its underground ventilation and heating, reduce maintenance needs and improve noise and air pollution.

“Today, we are committing to use the very technologies combatting climate change that require the metals our world-class, 21st century mine will produce,” Kelly Osborne, Twin Metals CEO, said in a statement. “We’re doubling down in our fight against climate change by both delivering the raw materials needed for our clean energy future and using the most innovative technologies to reduce the impacts of our own operations.”

While the company has not established contracts with specific battery-electric mining equipment vendors yet, once adopted the electric fleet will replace nearly 100% of its vehicles.

The company claims it will be the first in Minnesota's mining industry to switch to all-electric vehicles.

Twin Metals has previously pursued other projects to improve the sustainability of its operations, like mining under a 15% smaller surface footprint, improving its methods to avoid acid rock drainage and implementing dry stack tailings management to avoid potential dam failures. Its parent company, Antofagasta, is also pursuing a target to decrease its emissions 30% between 2021 and 2025.