Sandvik to Supply Battery-Electric Mining Fleet for Hermosa

Stockholm, Sweden - Sandvik AB., a mining solutions provider, has secured a major order to supply a fleet of underground mining equipment, including a significant number of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), to South32’s greenfield Hermosa critical minerals project in Arizona.

The equipment order includes a mix of battery-electric and conventional machinery. Among the BEVs are underground trucks, loaders, bolters, development drills, and longhole drills. The conventional equipment order features trucks, cable bolters, loaders, and additional longhole drills. Deliveries are set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026 and will continue through to 2030, with the bulk of the deliveries anticipated in 2026 and 2027.

Hermosa is currently the only advanced mining development in the U.S. positioned to produce two federally designated critical minerals - manganese and zinc. South32 is advancing the project’s zinc-lead-silver deposit with the goal of establishing it as a multi-decade operation.

Mr. Mats Eriksson, President of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, said, “We’re proud that Sandvik BEVs will help contribute to an increased supply of critical minerals, supporting the continued electrification of society. Lower fuel expenses and maintenance costs coupled with longer equipment lifespan will enable a more efficient, economical, and sustainable mining operation at Hermosa.”

The move underscores a growing trend toward electrification and decarbonization in underground mining operations, particularly as global demand for critical minerals surges.