Powering the future of mining

IN AN INDUSTRY under pressure to reduce emissions, Capital Limited and Epiroc have accelerated development of a battery-electric surface drill well ahead of market demand. Their partnership on the SmartROC D65 BE demonstrator shows how a shared vision and urgency can overcome technical and logistical challenges. By stepping into uncharted territory together, they’re advancing equipment design and defining how mining companies will be able to transition to lower-emission operations globally. Tony Woolfe, General Manager, Assets and Supply Chain at Capital Limited, and Carl Lager, Key Account Manager at Epiroc, share how this collaboration came together – and why it’s setting the pace for what’s next.

How did this collaboration come about?
Tony Woolfe: “We’ve used Epiroc equipment for a long time and were very aware that electrification was the future. Instead of waiting, we asked, ‘What’s on your roadmap? What’s coming next? And how can we help move it forward?’ That led to this collaboration.”

Carl Lager:  “Capital Limited didn’t wait for us to develop a finished product – they pushed us to move faster. They saw where things were heading and wanted to be part of the development, not just the end user. That made a huge difference.”

 

TW: “A big part of that was sustainability. Capital is moving toward lowering emissions, and we saw that Epiroc shared that goal – not just manufacturing electric rigs, but committed to real change.”

What were the biggest challenges?
CL: “The biggest challenge lies in the limitations of current battery technology. A drill of this size cannot depend solely on today’s batteries as it would require hourly charging. This makes a reliable power grid essential – something many mines are not yet equipped to provide.”

TW:  “We had to convince people. There was initial skepticism – questions about operational challenges, power supply, and whether mines were ready for a battery-electric rig. Even within Epiroc, some doubted whether the timeline could be accelerated.”

 

How did you handle charging?
TW: “Initially, running a diesel generator felt counterintuitive, especially since we first explored connecting the onsite solar farm grid to the pit. However, it wasn’t feasible to install a grid for a single machine test, so in the end, we decided to focus on preparing and proving a battery-electric drill. We found that grid infrastructure for long-term operations could be the second phase. This test is about proving the drill’s readiness, even if it means using a generator while more sustainable options are developed.”

 

CL: We also considered alternative fuels, but they either fell short on power delivery or are currently too costly to be viable. Moving to a plug-in electric rig seemed like the best decision, even if it means relying on a diesel genset at the start. This approach allows Capital Limited and their clients to explore using the future green power source that suits them.”

 

How were you able to move so fast?
CL: “Rather than designing a battery-electric rig from scratch, we retrofitted our proven SmartROC D65, which Capital Limited is already familiar with and trusts. This approach not only allowed us to deliver a working prototype quickly, but also enabled us to concentrate entirely on the power pack, as the rest of the machine was already reliable and well-tested.”

TW:  “We weren’t passive – we pushed to move faster. While Epiroc weren't sure about the market readiness for battery- electric surface drilling on this scale and how it would be powered, we got involved early on, giving feedback and solving operational challenges.”

How has this changed the way in which you work together?
CL: “Capital Limited sat down with us in Sweden and Vancouver, met the team, looked at the chassis mid-build, and helped shape final decisions. That level of collaboration sped development in ways we hadn’t expected. It’s definitely something I see continuing.”

TW: “People joke that I’m all Epiroc, and they’re right – because we trust their equipment, their team, and their commitment. That’s what makes this partnership work.”

 

Where’s the rig now?
CL: “We’re working through a couple of small snags and conducting final testing in British Columbia, then it’ll be on to Capital Limited’s field trial at the Sukari Mine in Egypt.”

 

TW: “We chose Sukari because we have a strong technical team there and a great relationship and collaboration with our client, AngloGold Ashanti. Additionally, it’s one of the few mining sites with a large, operational on-site solar farm, which will be important long-term to truly make it an emissions-free drill rig.”

What’s next?
TW: Once the rig is running at Sukari, we’ll apply what we’ve learnt to future deployments. The goal isn’t just one electric drill – it’s about integrating battery-electric technology across our operations and to actively contribute to moving the industry forward.”

CL: “Epiroc is committed to expanding its battery-electric offerings. By 2030, we aim to have a full lineup of emission-free surface equipment. Collaborations like this are how we get there.”

 

TW: “Of course, innovation costs. The first quotes for electric infrastructure were in the millions. That’s a hard sell for any company. But we knew that getting in early would set us apart in the long run, and we understood that the current hurdle for our suppliers was the lack of infrastructure strategy. So, we didn’t approach Epiroc with, ‘Build this and we’ll buy it’. Rather, we said, ‘We’ll help build the infrastructure; we’ll figure this out together. Let’s get this moving.’ This project will prove that battery-electric rigs work in real-world conditions, and that’s the first step to broader adoption.”