Normet Variomec XS battery-electric vehicle to be tested at Boliden Somincor
Boliden’s Somincor operations will soon start testing its first battery-electric production support machine after a Normet Variomec XS 035 Crew SD mine service vehicle arrived on site in Alejento Province, Portugal, this week.
The machine made the 2.5-hour journey from its location at FIL in Lisbon, where it was on show at The Electric Mine 2026, last week. It arrived at Somincor’s operations on Monday.
Boasting a 3 t carrying capacity and the ability to accommodate up to six personnel, the machine is designed for operating in small tunnels. It is equipped with a FOPS/ROPS cabin, a full chassis suspension system and high-quality powertrain components, Normet says.
Boliden Somincor told IM that the battery-electric vehicle will be used by the mine’s cabling and rehabilitation team, with its arrival representing a “milestone in efficiency and sustainability for underground logistics”.
The operation added: “As a 100% electric machine, its integration eliminates the emission of polluting gases in confined spaces, significantly improving air quality and working conditions for the teams.”
The unit is set to be trialled at Somincor in daily operations where it will help transport critical materials, such as heavy steel cable reels and 500 kg bags of cement, for the site’s Epiroc Cabletec M bolting fleet.
It concluded: “This trial may represent a fleet upgrade and the beginning of a ‘mini success story’ that demonstrates how green mining technology can increase operational productivity while reducing the carbon footprint.”
While Boliden Somincor does not currently have any battery-electric vehicles in its operational fleet, it has been proactively pushing forward with its site-based decarbonisation efforts. For instance, it will recommence in the coming weeks the construction operations for its 49 MWp solar park – Portugal’s largest self‑consumption production unit.
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