Nornickel and BELAZ have agreed to establish a joint venture focused on next-generation underground mining equipment, autonomous technologies and related maintenance capabilities. The Nornickel Belaz joint venture follows a cooperation agreement signed on September 7 in Zhodino, Belarus, by Nornickel President Vladimir Potanin and BELAZ CEO Sergei Lesin.
Joint Venture to Focus on Next Generation Mining Equipment
Under the agreement, the Nornickel Belaz joint venture will develop and manufacture underground mining equipment and introduce autonomous technologies for mining operations. The companies also plan to establish a full-service repair facility supporting the production, repair and maintenance of underground mining equipment.
The partnership builds on cooperation that Nornickel and BELAZ began in 2022 to develop and mass-produce underground mining equipment. Nornickel has been involved in improving the technical specifications of the machines, conducting testing and supporting their development toward international standards.
Several machines developed through the cooperation are already undergoing testing. Six MoAZ-75851 underground mine dump trucks and a MoAZ-4076 load-haul-dump machine are being tested at Nornickel’s operations in Norilsk. BELAZ is also conducting factory tests on a 45-tonne underground dump truck, the BELAZ-75855, and a BELAZ-79550 loader with a 17.2-tonne payload capacity.
Partnership Expands Alternative Energy Equipment Development
The companies are also working on mining equipment powered by alternative energy sources, including electricity and hydrogen. A battery-powered load-haul-dump machine is undergoing factory testing, while pilot industrial testing of battery-powered mine dump trucks is planned for 2027.
Other equipment under development includes underground self-propelled machinery for transporting people and freight. Nornickel and BELAZ are also examining the potential use of palladium catalysts in onboard hydrogen production systems, with the generated hydrogen intended to serve as an energy source for mining equipment.
The Nornickel Belaz joint venturere is also intended to support domestic demand for underground mining equipment in Russia and reduce reliance on imported machinery. The companies said the cooperation is expected to contribute to the development of engineering and industrial capabilities and strengthen cooperation between Russia and Belarus.
The agreement marks a further expansion of the companies’ existing equipment-development programme, while the planned joint venture and repair facility remain future developments rather than operational entities.