Diesel engines are the power of choice for all mining applications, from small materials handling loaders to industrial engines of up to 13,000 horsepower or the largest earthmovers. From underground coal and precious metal mining and extraction equipment to surface aggregate mines, diesel engines power all the equipment to remove, transport and process these precious raw materials.
Diesel engines have unique benefits in the mining environment.
In addition to durability, reliability and performance, diesel equipment is the safest choice of power for underground mining applications. The performance and improvements in diesel equipment has facilitated exploration for new mineral and natural resource reserves into geology and topology areas previously considered technologically or economically infeasible. As in many diesel applications, diesel engines used in the mining industry are faced with emission challenges. Environmental benefits of diesels, such as low greenhouse gas emissions, are balanced by concern with emission of nitrogen oxides and diesel particulates. Increasingly tighter environmental regulations worldwide call for advanced emission controls and near-zero diesel emission levels by 2005.