Austmine Webinar: Reducing Energy & Operating Costs

The mining sector is facing operational challenges on a day-to-day basis, impacting productivity, costs, reliability and performance. The Mining Operations – The Issues That Matter Now webinar series will dive into how METS companies are supporting mine sites to address these issues, with practical solutions, services and approaches in real operating environments. 

Join Austmine on Tuesday 10 November as they continue the series with Reducing Energy & Operating Costs. This session will highlight how METS companies are helping to reduce energy use and operating costs through engineering solutions, process improvements and operational support.  Case examples will focus on practical, implementable outcomes rather than long-term transformation programs. 
 

Webinar Details

Tuesday 10 November 2026

2:00PM AEST 

Presenters

Gareth Dean | Business Development Manager, EACON 
 

Cutting Energy Costs in Mining Haulage: What Battery-Electric Autonomous Operations Actually Deliver
Energy and operating costs remain among the biggest pressures facing mine operators globally, with transport a major contributor. As the industry turns to battery-electric vehicles to reduce energy costs and emissions, many mine operators are assessing whether battery-electric solutions are mature enough to sustain required levels of productivity and output.
This session draws on EACON’s direct experience deploying and operating battery-electric autonomous transport fleets across multiple mine sites and commodities to examine what the operational and cost data shows in practice. With more than a quarter of EACON’s global autonomous fleet now powered by battery-electric powertrains, the experience provides a practical view of where savings are being realised, what operating conditions deliver the strongest results, and how autonomy can amplify the efficiency benefits of electrification.
The session will examine how route optimisation, power management and reduced idle time work together to lower energy consumption and operating costs. It will also explore the practical considerations of transitioning to battery-electric autonomous transport, including integration into brownfield operations and the management of mixed diesel, hybrid and battery-electric fleets. Attendees will leave with an evidence-based understanding of where battery-electric autonomous transport can deliver measurable cost reductions, the conditions required to achieve those results, and how to assess whether their own operations are ready to make the transition.

Tom Smith | Vice President Global Products, Schlam

One Size Doesn’t Fit Any: How Tailored Mining Truck Beds Unlock Productivity and Lower Costs
Every mine site is different, and understanding those differences is where the opportunity lies. This presentation explores how taking the time to understand each site’s specific challenges has delivered real productivity and cost gains for the world’s largest miners. We’ll show how rethinking traditional maintenance strategies and designing for actual operating conditions can unlock greater payload and reduce lifecycle costs. Using case studies from the top three global miners, we’ll demonstrate how Schlam’s Hercules truck bed delivers these results in the field, and why a one-size-fits-all approach can leave significant value behind. 

Masoud Abshar | Managing Director, Magellan

Hybrid Power Boosters: Unlocking More Power from Existing Mining Infrastructure While Reducing Energy Costs
Mining operations are under increasing pressure to reduce operating costs, lower emissions and electrify equipment, yet many sites remain constrained by limited grid capacity and expensive diesel generation. This presentation explores how innovative power architecture can unlock additional capacity from existing electrical infrastructure without the need for costly network upgrades. Developed by Magellan Power, the Hybrid Power Booster intelligently integrates the grid, battery energy storage, solar PV and standby generators through a common DC backbone to deliver significantly higher peak power when required while optimising energy flows in real time. Rather than replacing existing infrastructure, the Hybrid Power Booster enhances it, enabling mining operations to defer network augmentation, reduce diesel runtime, minimise peak demand charges and improve power system resilience. Drawing on more than 35 years of Australian power electronics design and manufacturing experience, this session will explain the engineering principles behind the technology and demonstrate practical mining applications, including remote operations, electrification of mobile equipment and high-power EV charging. It will also share insights from Magellan Power's Pilbara field deployment and discuss the commercial outcomes being achieved. Attendees will gain practical insights into how advanced power electronics can reduce both capital and operating costs while supporting the transition to more efficient, resilient and lower-emission mining operations.