By 2025, Epiroc aims to offer a complete range of emission-free underground products.
G. Arunkumar,
What sustainable technologies and practices has your company implemented in your range of construction equipment?
The SBTi (Science Based Target Initiatives) validated Epiroc’s climate targets as being in line with keeping global warming at a maximum 1.5°C, consistent with the latest climate science and the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement. By 2025, Epiroc aims to offer a complete range of emission-free underground products.
How do you foresee the role of green technologies evolving in the construction equipment industry over the next decade?
Electric trolley trucks and other underground equipment offers several advantages, including reduced noise pollution, lower operating costs, and zero emissions at the point of use. Let alone the percentage of renewables in grid power, the biggest advantage will be, ability to go deeper as ventilation demand will drop significantly, with battery-electric vehicles.
What challenges do you face in incorporating green technologies, and how are you addressing them?
Economically, the high initial investment costs for green
tech can be a barrier, coupled with mind block of government safety organization, DGMS, to approve operation of such vehicles underground. More importantly, mine owners, averseness to invest in chilling plant, to keep temperature underground at less than 40 degrees centigrade.
How does your company plan to continue innovating in the realm of sustainable construction equipment?
Our target is to half the CO2 emission by 2030 and our net-zero emission target for underground equipment is 2050. Epiroc is collaborating with battery manufacturers, to better efficiency and with acquisition, we are at a pole position to build underground electrical infrastructure, for our customers.
What are your thoughts on the regulatory landscape for green construction equipment, and how is your company preparing to meet these standards?
Epiroc on its own, at Nashik and Hyderabad manufacturing facilities, generates solar power sufficient to run, its operations complying with Pollution Control Board’s directive for water and air. We are working with our vendors, to declare their CO2 emissions and plan for reduction and elimination, gradually.
How important is customer demand for green technology in driving your company’s innovation?
Every customer of ours, both in mining and construction have their own ambitious sustainability targets to meet by 2030. This drives our innovation speed in order to meet our own and our customers demand for green technology. We have even created a dedicated vertical named Epiroc Electrification Solutions to focus and speed up innovation in this area.
