Rail-Veyor wins Mining Cleantech Challenge

Autonomous Truck. Image from Rail Veyor.

Sudbury, Ontario-based Rail-Veyor Technologies (RVTG) won first place in the fourth annual Mining Cleantech Challenge, which took place virtually on July 23.

Alongside the winning title, the company received a $5,000 prize, which RVTG announced would be used for education-based marketing.

With 13 companies representing the US, Canada, Australia, and the U.K. at the competition, Rail-Veyor's technology was chosen by mining executives and investors as the best. An international team of judges reviewed and voted on the winners at the first-ever virtual Mining Cleantech Challenge, hosted by Colorado Cleantech Industries Association (CCIA).

"The Rail-Veyor Truly Autonomous haulage system is a natively electric solution so there are no diesel emissions to affect the workforce or community of a mine either underground or on surface applications. We are proud that the Rail-Veyor system is a cleaner choice for the planet than other standard bulk material hauling choices with the added benefit of significantly reduced opex costs," Lisa Youngblood, Rail-Veyor's executive director of marketing and communications, said in a release.

Helen El Mallakh, CCIA's executive director, elaborated on the relationship between clean technology and the mining industry:

"Today, the mining industry is being called upon to provide the materials that are necessary to build a more sustainable global economy. In many ways, mining is at a pivot point and cleantech is the catalyst. That is why the technologies that are used in this sector are so meaningful and why events like the Mining Cleantech Challenge are critical in advancing the process."

"We are looking forward to advancing the conversations with industry leaders who are making cleantech a priority for their companies," Youngblood added.

Program sponsors and partners include Newmont, BHP, Fresnillo, Royal Gold, Ausenco, Clareo, Colorado School of Mines, Jolimont Global Mining Systems and Resource Capital Funds, among others.

(This article first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal)