Update on BluVein1 Pilot Demonstration

July 22, 2022

Brisbane, Australia – After officially receiving agreement and project approval from all project partners, BluVein has initiated the third phase of technology development and testing of its underground mine electrification solution, BluVein1.

The purpose of this phase is to:

  1. Conduct full-scale refined hammer (collector) and arm design and testing (second prototype)
  2. Execute early integration works with mining partners and OEMs
  3. Full-power dynamic energy transfer for vehicle demonstration on local test site
  4. Local test site development
Proposed BluVein1 test track on a soon-to-be-announced local test site in Australia.

“With the urgent need to decarbonize, CMIC’s approach to co-develop and co-deploy new platform technologies is the way to accelerate to net zero GHG. The BluVein consortium is a perfect example of how to accelerate co-development of new technology platforms.” Carl Weatherell, Executive Director and CEO, CMIC / President Rethink Mining Ventures.

“This phase is an essential final pre-pilot stage to BluVein1, the enabler of next-gen grid-connected mine vehicles. It excites me that the BluVein solution is becoming an industry reality. The faster BluVein1 is ready for deployment, the better for our partners and the mining industry globally.” James Oliver, CEO, BluVein.

BluVein recently entered a Memorandum of Understanding with Swedish mining equipment giant Epiroc, where the latter’s MT42 electric mining truck is the vehicle of choice to test BluVein’s dynamic charging system. This MOU also ensures that we are designing and developing the system into a real-world BEV for full-scale live testing and demonstration on a pilot site in 2023.

BluVein Project Consortium as of June 2022.

The BluVein1 consortium also welcomed South32 into the project in May, joining Northern Star Resources, Newcrest Mining, Vale, Glencore, Agnico Eagle, AngloGold Ashanti, and BHP who have signed a consortium project agreement that aims to enable final system development and the construction of a technology demonstration pilot site in Australia.

James Oliver adds, “The BluVein1 consortium is a great reminder that many hands make light work, and through this open collaboration with OEMs and mining companies, we’re moving faster together towards a cleaner, greener future for mining.”

The consortium model by Rethink Mining powered by the Canada Mining Innovation Council (CMIC) is a unique collaboration structure that fast-track mining innovation technologies such as BluVein and CAHM (Conjugant Anvil Hammer Mill).

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