Swedish engineering giant Sandvik has landed its largest-ever order for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), with ASX- and JSE-listed South32 selecting the company to supply a fleet of underground mining equipment for its Hermosa critical minerals project in Arizona, USA.
The order, valued at approximately SEK 750 million, was confirmed in the second quarter of 2025 and includes a combination of battery-electric and conventional underground mining machines.
Deliveries will begin in Q4 2026 and extend through 2030, with the majority of equipment scheduled to arrive in 2026 and 2027.
“We’re proud that Sandvik BEVs will help contribute to an increased supply of critical minerals, supporting the continued electrification of society,” said Mats Eriksson, President of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.
“Lower fuel expenses and maintenance costs, combined with longer equipment life, will allow for more efficient, economical, and sustainable operations at Hermosa.”
The fleet will include battery-electric trucks, loaders, bolters, development drills, and longhole drills, along with conventional trucks, loaders, cable bolters, and longhole drills.
Hermosa is South32’s flagship U.S. project and currently the only advanced mining development in the country positioned to produce two federally designated critical minerals: manganese and zinc.
Initial production from the zinc/lead/silver deposit is expected in 2027, with plans to develop Hermosa into a multi-decade operation.
