Market Trends of Russia Mining Equipment Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Russia Mining Equipment Market according to our research experts:
Electric Vehicles Segment Grows with High CAGR
Electric vehicles are witnessing high potential in the mining industry not only because it reduces the carbon footprints but also it improves the site's safety. Especially, in underground mining electric vehicles improves the air quality underground as they do not emit any harmful gases and particulates that come from diesel engines such as nitrogen oxide. These harmful gases can cause breathing difficulties, resulting in conditions such as lung inflammation and asthma. Short-term exposure has been found to cause headaches and eye irritation, which could limit the effectiveness of workers.
Many players in the industry are spending heavily to develop new products to increased torque and handling to travel faster underground. For instance, in April 2020, ARMZ Mining Machinery become the first and only company in Russia producing lithium-ion battery-powered mining equipment through a collaboration with Aramine. The company has started producing the mining equipment in Krasnokamensk, in the Trans-Baikal Territory of Russia.
The ARGO LHD 140B is designed specifically for underground work in narrow-vein deposits. The Aramine mini loader L140B, has a width of 1.1 m and a bucket carrying capacity of 1.3 t. A 50-kW engine and a lithium-ion battery pack provide high mobility and continuous operation for up to four hours; at the same time, offering low noise, minimal heat transfer and no gas contamination in the mine.
Coal Mining Captures Largest Market
Russia has boosted its coal production capacity by more than 30% in the last decade reaching a total capacity of over 440million tons and has become the world's third largest producer of coal. The investment in the industry surged 150% during the same period. Coal mining in Russia is entirely in the hands of private companies.
The market leader is SUEK (Siberian Coal Energy Company) with coal sales of 113.8 Mta, with a market share of 25 % in 2018. Due to the increasing demand for thermal coal, Russia continues to expand its production volumes and infrastructure. The markets in Japan, Korea and Taiwan primarily demand high-quality boiler coals with calorific values of 5600 kcal and higher.
However, the low temperature in the country is a challenge for most of the mining equipment manufacturers as mining equipment fail to operate in such low temperatures, temperatures can get as low as -45 degrees Celsius - puts mining equipment to the test. But the major mining operators are spending heavily on procurement of new products which can overcome the situation and perform smoothly in such conditions. For instance, in March 2019, Komatsu PC1250 diesel hydraulic excavator arrived at SUEK's Apsatsky open pit mine. Komatsu PC1250 is suitable for operation at low temperatures, which will ensure an uninterrupted work of miners in the northern part of Zabaikalye, at the Apsatsky open pit mine.
