Argentina's Vicuña Copper Mine Introduces 12 142-Tonne Mining Trucks

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 15, mining development company Vicuña launched the transport of its first batch of Komatsu HD1500 large mining trucks, with plans to deliver the equipment to the mining project camp in San Juan Province, Argentina. The new batch of mining equipment comprises 36 major machines in total, including 12 HD1500 mining trucks, each with a rated payload of approximately 142 tonnes. The remaining equipment includes hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, bulldozers, graders and compaction machinery. All equipment is scheduled for delivery in batches by April 2027.

After the first batch of mining trucks arrives at the camp, lifting, mechanical assembly and operational performance testing will be carried out in sequence, and the equipment will be put into on-site operation once preparation is complete. The machinery will be used for large-scale earthwork and rock haulage, initial mine stripping, construction area preparation, and the construction and maintenance of mine roads and working platforms.

The Vicuña project is jointly advanced by BHP and Lundin Mining, covering the Josemaría copper deposit in San Juan Province, Argentina, as well as the Filo del Sol copper-gold-silver deposit spanning the border region between Argentina and Chile. The mobilization of this large machinery is part of the project's early-stage construction equipment deployment.

Vicuña had previously introduced 21 mining haul trucks with a 40-tonne payload into the project, mainly for site preparation in the concentrator construction area and mine road construction, staffed by dedicated operators trained by the company. The newly added Komatsu HD1500 trucks will undertake larger-scale material haulage and initial stripping operations.