BMA rolls out electric battery vehicles at Broadmeadow Mine

The electric battery vehicles will boost underground safety and is another ‘positive step’ towards the mine giant’s zero emissions target.

A Central Queensland mine has taken delivery of its first electric transporters that will cut diesel emissions in underground operations.

The BMA-owned battery electric personnel transporters will replace two diesel transporters and will help reduce the total amount of diesel particulate matter released into the underground ventilation system.

The machines have been rolled out at Broadmeadow Mine and will play a key role in BMA’s safety initiative to reduce the diesel particulate matter in underground operations.

“Diesel machines create a real hazard in an underground mine and we’ve been on a journey over the past four years to reduce these DPM emissions in the ventilation system,” Broadmeadow Mine project manager Darren Wood said.

“We’re thrilled to have found the perfect solution in the battery electric vehicles, which will be used by our maintenance personnel to travel in Negligible-Explosion Risk Zones throughout the underground mine.”

BMA Launches its first Battery Electric Underground Coal Mine Vehicles. Picture: Daryl Wright

The electric transporters are currently unable to enter some hazardous areas of the mine because of requirements for each machine to be explosion-protected to access an Explosion Risk Zone.

“Hopefully within the next two years we will have electric vehicle options available that can enter all areas of our underground coal mine,” Mr Wood said.

“Several suppliers are currently working on options and once successful, we will commence a fleet replacement program to replace all existing diesel personnel transporters with battery electric vehicles.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be at the forefront of these new global initiatives.”

BMA president James Palmer said the transporters were a major step towards safer and more sustainable underground mining.

“This is another positive step in our journey to achieve zero emissions by the year 2050.”