EACON Mining Technology has successfully completed their mining autonomy project at the Shuichang Iron Ore Mine in northern China, officially handing over operations to the Shougang Group. This milestone highlights EACON’s strategic shift from directly operating autonomous haulage fleets as a contractor to empowering clients or partner contractors to manage operations.

Shuichang Iron Ore Mine

The Shuichang Iron Ore Mine, with an annual capacity of 11.46 million tonnes of aggregate and 2.4 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate powder, posed a unique set of challenges. However, EACON ORCASTRA® enables autonomous haul trucks to automatically respond to the traffic light status at the crusher while also adapting to complex intersections, traffic flow, and navigation rules for efficient operations. These solutions complement the deployment of ten EY70E autonomous battery vehicles designed in collaboration with Yutong to move aggregate. Together, these innovations are enabling efficient and reliable haulage operations at the site.

Project Commissioning and Handover

The Shuichang project has achieved significant milestones since its inception. By November 2024, the project finished commissioning with EACON beginning training of the mine controller and onsite team, and by January 2025, the project was successfully handed over to the client. EACON’s aftersales team will now provide on-site support for the next three years, ensuring seamless operations and continuous improvement.

Paving the Way

The Shuichang project is not only a testament to EACON’s technical expertise but also a strong foundation for a long-term partnership with the Shougang Group, who highly recognised EACON’s success in the project and expressed strong interest for repurchasing at other Shougang mine sites.

“The launch of autonomous haulage operations enables us to capitalise on new technological advancements and industrial changes, while boosting productivity at the grassroots level, tailored to local conditions,” said Yao Yongpu, Chairperson of the Union of Shougang Mining Corporation.

The project’s completion underscores the company’s commitment to driving innovation, safety, and sustainability in global mining operations, further solidifying its position as a leader in autonomous mining technology. With a shared vision of efficiency and progress, EACON is well-positioned to collaborate with its partners and spearhead the transformation of the mining industry in the years ahead.