Advancing CO₂-Neutral Mining in Västerbotten: Insights from Dr. Adrianus Halim’s Work in CRM-V

As part of the CRM-V project, Dr. Adrianus “Adrian” Halim, Senior Lecturer in Mining and Rock Engineering, is examining how carbon-neutral technologies can transform future underground mining – especially in smaller deposits along the Nickel Line in Västerbotten.

His role focuses on understanding both the potential and the challenges of using battery-powered machines, commonly known as Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), in small-scale underground mines, with a particular emphasis on ventilation. The focus is on underground mines since the use of BEVs in surface mines is still far from feasible due to the requirement for enormous batteries, which presents substantial operational challenges.

Dr. Halim describes his role clearly: “Basically, my goal is to investigate the use of carbon-neutral
equipment in small-scale underground mines, in order to make the mining process more sustainable in the future.” His background in underground mine ventilation has shaped this work, and he notes that the shift from diesel to electric machinery could make an immediate difference for workers underground: “replacing diesel machines with electric vehicles will improve the air quality significantly.”

His experience testing BEVs in EU-funded projects in Finland, Poland, and Sweden has reinforced this conviction. “They are fantastic – they really improve working conditions because they do not emit any atmospheric contaminants (gases and Diesel Particulate Matter-DPM) and are much quieter than diesel machines,” he says.

However, the reality of applying these technologies into mining of smaller ore bodies presents a different set of challenges. Dr. Halim notes that “the capital cost of these vehicles is still very high, much higher than for diesel machines.” In small-scale mining, this issue is magnified because “the economy is more sensitive to capital expenditure… Because production is smaller, high equipment and infrastructure costs have a greater impact on project feasibility”. Ensuring that small-scale mining remains feasible while using expensive BEVs is, as he puts it, “the biggest challenge.”

Technical hurdles also remain. According to Dr. Halim, “the main technical challenge is the duration of the battery.” BEVs still struggle to operate continuously enough to match the productivity of equivalent diesel-powered machines. Battery-swapping systems offer one solution, but they introduce new complications. He explains that “large underground mines BEVs do battery swapping, but that requires costly infrastructure and handling systems for the used batteries.”

Different manufacturers approach the problem differently. Sandvik’s system allows a machine to “self swap its battery without needing cranes or similar infrastructure,” though the consequence is that its batteries are heavy, which poses handling difficulties afterward, and its BEVs must house the self swapping mechanism that adds complexity to the vehicle’s structure. Epiroc, meanwhile, uses cranes for swapping – “so the infrastructure is more expensive” – but its batteries are “much lighter, making them easier to handle, and its vehicle’s structure is simpler.” Across the board, the challenge is “achieving productivity equal to diesel-powered machines while managing these battery and infrastructure limitations.

Ventilation requirements also shift significantly in an electric fleet. Dr. Halim explains that “electric vehicles require much less ventilation than diesel machines,” but notes that other factors remain important. Ventilation still depends on “mine depth that affects rock temperature and autocompression, surface climate, and the presence of strata gases such as radon and methane.” As a result, “the air quantity requirements can vary a lot; it’s very site-specific depending on the mine’s conditions.”

The CRM-V project has recently reached a key stage. “We have at least obtained the general geometry of the ore body in Lappvattnet,” he says. With this information, he can “preliminary determine the suitable underground mining methods, then continue developing a conceptual
ventilation circuit, and proceed step by step.”

When asked about the outlook for CO₂-neutral mining in Sweden, Dr. Halim reflects: “I’m both hopeful and cautious.” The potential benefits are substantial, but “the main challenge is still the cost.” As technology matures and costs come down, he believes the viability of carbon-neutral mining will steadily improve.

Through his work in CRM-V, Dr. Halim is helping to map out what a cleaner, safer, and more climate conscious future for Swedish mining could look like – one that combines technological innovation with practical understanding of small-scale mining realities.