Railveyor Technologies Global has been selected as the preferred haulage solution provider for Ivanhoe Electric’s Santa Cruz copper project, in Arizona, in the US.

Ivanhoe Electric included Railveyor in its highly engineered preliminary feasibility study (PFS), which was recently completed, in which it described a high-quality underground mining operation with strong economics.

“This collaboration highlights Railveyor’s growing role in shaping the future of mining. Our team looks forward to supporting Ivanhoe Electric in delivering a world-class, low-impact mining operation at Santa Cruz,” Railveyor CEO Tas Mohamed has said.

Ivanhoe Electric highlighted that the Santa Cruz project is supported by modern technologies to enable faster mine development and more efficient processing methods.

Railveyor’s fully electric haulage technology supports mine design flexibility, scalability and sustainable performance, which are critical factors for projects such as Santa Cruz that are committed to low carbon development strategies.

Ivanhoe Electric has highlighted that the project’s base case uses 70% renewable energy. This will result in low Scope 1 and 2 CO₂-equivalent (CO₂e) emissions of 0.49 t of CO₂e/t of copper produced, compared with the industry average of 3.9 t.

Studies on Railveyor’s performance in active mining operations demonstrated that the system reduced mine-wide emissions by up to 39% when compared to diesel trucks.

Railveyor also helps to lower operational costs, reducing operating expenditure by as much as 75% compared to truck haulage. The value delivered by the Railveyor technology supports the cash costs and low emissions projections of the Santa Cruz operation.

According to Ivanhoe Electric CEO Taylor Melvin, Santa Cruz will become an example of responsibly produced copper in the US, and a source of stable employment in Arizona during development and throughout its anticipated 20-year life-of-mine.

Railveyor’s fully electric and autonomous technology is efficient. The narrow gauge light rail system is propelled by low horsepower drive stations located along the haulage route. The company’s software further enhances the efficiency, streamlines operations and contributes to a safe and controlled environment with zero emissions.

“We are proud to support Ivanhoe Electric in making fully electric mining a reality. The Santa Cruz project is a bold step toward a cleaner copper future, with Railveyor providing the energy-efficient haulage needed to help achieve that goal,” Railveyor sales and marketing executive VP Jerome Rodriguez said.