Sibanye-Stillwater is introducing low-profile mining equipment from Epiroc at its Rustenburg platinum operations in South Africa, aiming to improve underground productivity, safety and mine life.
Mechanisation is becoming a central part of Sibanye-Stillwater’s plans for its Siphumelele shaft in South Africa. The mining company has ordered a fleet of low-profile loaders and utility vehicles from Epiroc as it looks to improve underground operations and make better use of existing platinum reserves.
The investment forms part of an ongoing project at the Rustenburg mining complex, where narrow mineralised reefs and restricted underground working conditions create challenges for conventional mining methods.
Equipment Designed for Narrow-Reef Mining
The order includes Epiroc’s LHD 5.5 LP loader, UV42 utility vehicles and a range of interchangeable cassettes designed for different underground transport tasks.
The low-profile loader is intended for material handling in confined mining environments, while the UV42 vehicles will support maintenance, logistics and the movement of personnel, tools and explosives.
The interchangeable cassette system allows one vehicle platform to perform several functions. For mine operators, this approach could offer greater operational flexibility and help improve fleet utilisation, depending on how the vehicles are integrated into daily mining activities.
The equipment originates from Epiroc’s acquisition of South African manufacturer AARD Mining Equipment in 2023, which expanded its portfolio of underground mining machines.
Extending the Value of Existing Reserves
For Sibanye-Stillwater, mechanisation at Siphumelele is closely connected to its strategy of extending mine life and improving the economics of established operations.
“The investment in Siphumelele is an important example of our strategic focus on extending mine life and unlocking additional value from our existing ore reserves,”
Said Richard Cox, Chief Operating Officer, Southern Africa operations at Sibanye-Stillwater.
The company expects the low-profile fleet to support safer and more efficient mining activities, although specific productivity improvements and operating-cost targets have not been disclosed.
The broader challenge will be integrating the equipment into an existing underground operation, where maintenance requirements, equipment availability and efficient logistics can determine the success of mechanisation.
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