Complete trolley solution from Liebherr Mining delivered to Chile

Liebherr Mining and Companía Minera Dona Ines de Collahuasi have successfully deployed a full trolley solution at the Collahuasi copper mine site in the Tarapace region of Chile. The site posed unique challenges when it came to designing the trolley line, as the mining site is situated 4,500 metres above sea level, where it is subject to extreme environmental factors such as high winds and seismic activity.

Four Liebherr T 284 360-tonne mining trucks are now operating under the project's one-kilometre trolley line.

Milestone achievement

The delivery of this complete trolley solution marks a significant achievement for Liebherr. The scope of the complete trolley solution included the engineering and manufacturing of the infrastructure, power system, and the trucks' onboard hardware; implementation and commissioning on site; and training and support for Collahuasi's employees.

"While the Collahuasi project is the first time we've delivered a full trolley solution, we've worked extensively with trolley technology", says Oliver Weiss, executive vice president, R&D, engineering and production, Liebherr-Mining Equipment SAS. "We've supplied 38 360-tonne trolley trucks in Panama, 15 360-tonne trolley trucks in Zambia, and 7 100-tonne trolley trucks in Austria. The combination of this experience with our in-house expertise and close collaboration with Collahuasi resulted in this excellent outcome."

A collaborative process

Collahuasi's trolley line can support two T 284 ultra-class trucks operating simultaneously, thanks to the power system's two 5.5 MW transformers. Components for the trolley line were sourced globally, with Liebherr Chile managing the process on the ground.

While Collahuasi was responsible for completing the civil works needed to facilitate the installation of the trolley line, Liebherr Chile provided expert assistance with haul road specifications and onsite construction.

Retrofitting the pantograph technology to Collahuasi's four T 284s was managed by Liebherr's sales and service company in Chile, Liebherr Chile, with support from Liebherr's truck production facility in Newport News, Virginia. To reduce downtime, the retrofit process was completed in stages. First, modifications were made to the trucks' superstructures in order to make them trolley ready. Then, when construction of the trolley infrastructure was nearing completion, technicians from Liebherr Chile fitted the pantographs to the truck.

"We leveraged our global network to find the best possible resources for this project," says Gonzalo Garcia, managing director, mining, Liebherr Chile. "The engineering of the trolley system's masts and catenary line took place in Chile. The transformers and the e-house that protects them were designed and built in South Africa. And auxiliary components like the tension wheels and contact and messenger wires came from various places in our international supply chain."

Comprehensive, enduring support

Liebherr has provided extensive training to Collahuasi's truck operators to ensure the trolley line is used to its maximum potential.

Now that Collahuasi has assumed operational control of the trolley line, Liebherr will continue to support mine staff with additional training and will also provide technical expertise when needed.

"This project is a clear example of what's possible through strategic partnership," Weiss says. "We look forward to seeing the long-term results and hopefully expanding Liebherr's trolley footprint in the future."