New electric truck fleet to boost mine efficiency at Conuma Coal Resources Limited

How the shift to electric is expected to generate substantial savings at the Wolverine Mine


TUMBLER RIDGE, British Columbia, Dec. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Conuma Coal Resources Limited (Conuma) is pleased to announce the replacement of a fleet of haul trucks at its Wolverine Mine with five new Komatsu electric 830E-5 models supplied by SMS Equipment Inc. Conuma is a Canadian metallurgical coal producer with more than 950 employees and three surface mining operations near Tumbler Ridge and Chetwynd in northeastern British Columbia, Canada.

Based on comprehensive engineering and financial analysis, Conuma determined that the deployment of new Komatsu 830E-5 haul trucks at Wolverine would meaningfully increase production at the mine, largely due to the improved overall availability of the Komatsu electric drive haul trucks. Contributing factors include easier maintenance and higher durability. The 830E-5’s are also quieter and more fuel-efficient than the existing haul trucks. John Schadan, Conuma’s President, noted that “Conuma is confident that we have chosen the right partners for results with Komatsu equipment and SMS Equipment’s parts, service and support. Their proven results and experience speak to the quality of their products and service.”

The first 830E-5 was released to the mine at the end of August 2019, and the remainder of the fleet will be delivered over the next two months. The new trucks complement existing equipment that SMS Equipment supports on Conuma’s mine sites. “SMS Equipment is committed to working with Conuma through the long-term to ensure full support, resulting in maximized uptime and availability of their Komatsu fleet,” said Dennis Chmielewski, EVP of Mining at SMS Equipment.

Daniel Funcannon, Vice President & GM, Mining Division, at Komatsu said, “We are honored to have our trucks supporting Conuma’s Wolverine Mine operation and are excited to help the mine realize its operational targets by providing consistent quality and reliability.”

The Komatsu 830E-5 electric truck leads the 250-ton class market with its proven durability and reliability. Powered by a 2500 HP Komatsu SDA16V160 engine, the drive system provides efficient transfer of power to the ground while realizing low fuel consumption and excellent reliability.

About Conuma Coal Resources Limited

Founded in mid-2016, Conuma Coal Resources Limited is a stand-alone, metallurgical coal producer based in Northeast British Columbia, Canada. Current surface mine operations at Brule, Wolverine and Willow Creek produce five million tonnes annually, providing security and more than 900 direct and 3000 indirect jobs for families in the Peace River Regional District.

Conuma was founded to be a contributor, positive influence and supporter to our community. We are committed to earning security for all of our partners, and to unifying resources and people to build a “first-class” organization recognized for character and true integrity.

About SMS Equipment

SMS Equipment is an experienced international equipment dealership focused on solutions. Founded on more than a century of combined entrepreneurial spirit and industry experience, SMS Equipment is a leading equipment dealer for the mining, construction, forestry, and utility industries. 

About Komatsu

Komatsu is an industry-leading manufacturer and supplier of equipment, technologies and services for the mining, construction, forklift, industrial and forestry markets. The company’s equipment and services are used to extract fundamental minerals and develop modern infrastructure. Komatsu’s global service and distributor networks support customer operations, tapping into the power of the Internet of Things to enhance safety and productivity while optimizing performance.

Contacts for further information

SMS Equipment
Roy Lapa
Director, Manager and Communications
+1 780 -948-22335
rlapa@smsequip.com

Komatsu
Caley Clinton, Manager – Corporate Communications & PR
+1 414-712-9728
caley.clinton@mining.komatsu

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74dfcc01-cd8c-4a97-8cdc-3bb826100a80

SMS-Conuma-830E_Web-0019

Contact Data