Powering industry: 4 energy lessons from a coal mine

The power required to run massive machinery deep underground represents one of the most significant mining operating costs

If you’ve ever been surprised by a high electricity bill, imagine that feeling scaled up to an industrial level, where Continuous Miner (CM) machines can demand more than 91,000kWh per month. What would you do?

The power required to run massive machinery deep underground represents one of the most significant mining operating costs, where even small inefficiencies can translate into enormous financial losses.

This motivated a meticulous energy audit conducted at the Khairaha Underground mine, a major coal producer in Sohagpur, India.

Unlike typical energy audits, this deep-dive focused specifically on the often-overlooked electrical systems of heavy subterranean machinery, applying innovative diagnostic techniques to uncover hidden inefficiencies.

Cover photo:  Washing and sorting at an open pit coal mine in South Africa.