Epiroc has announced a significant order for autonomous and electric surface mining equipment in Africa, which will include a fleet of Pit Viper 275 E blasthole drill rigs. The order is valued at SEK 380 million (equivalent to $40.7 million), with SEK denoting Swedish Krona. It was booked in the March quarter of 2026. The Pit Viper 275 E rigs are cable-electric and will operate fully autonomously, which, according to the company, enhances safety and productivity while eliminating exhaust emissions. Notably, these rigs are manufactured by Epiroc, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
“Epiroc is on the forefront of mining automation and electrification, and this major order is another significant step forward in our journey to support customers to operate in the safest, most productive and most climate-friendly manner possible,” said Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO.
The Pit Viper 275 E is the cable-electric version of Epiroc’s widely recognised blasthole drill rig. Its robust design and innovative features have established it as a preferred solution for rotary blasthole drilling worldwide. Delivery of these rigs is set to begin soon and is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, reinforcing Epiroc’s ongoing commitment to advancing mining technology.
Building on this success, Epiroc recently released its 2025 Annual and Sustainability Report. In the report, Hedblom highlighted key milestones for the company’s autonomous and electric equipment over the previous year. She noted that demand for Epiroc’s products and solutions remained robust in 2025, with mining clients driving 79% of total orders. This strong performance was supported by higher mineral prices—particularly for gold and copper—which led to sustained activity in the mining sector.
Further strengthening the company’s trajectory, Hedblom added that customer demand for solutions that enhance productivity and efficiency remained high. This resulted in several large orders for autonomous and electric equipment, as well as multi-year agreements for connectivity and digital platforms. The exploration business experienced particularly strong growth in the second half of the year, signalling a positive outlook for long-term mining activity and future equipment demand. Additionally, demand for service and aftermarket solutions remained strong throughout the year.
In addition to the African order, the year’s most significant event was Epiroc’s largest contract to date: a five-year agreement with Fortescue in Australia, valued at approximately SEK 2.2 billion (or 2,200 MSEK, meaning Million Swedish Krona). Under this contract, Epiroc will deliver roughly 50 fully autonomous and electric surface drill rigs, including cable-electric Pit Viper 271 E rigs and battery-electric SmartROC D65 BE rigs. These driverless machines will be operated remotely from Fortescue’s Integrated Operations Centre in Perth, over 1,500 kilometres from the mining sites.
When fully deployed, this fleet is expected to further enhance safety and productivity while reducing CO2emissions. This order illustrates that automation and electrification have evolved beyond pilot projects and are now being implemented on a full industrial scale. Of the Fortescue contract, MSEK 100 (100 Million Swedish Krona) was booked as orders received in 2025, with the majority to be recognised from 2026 onwards.
Another noteworthy milestone occurred at the Roy Hill mine, operated by Hancock Iron Ore in Australia, where Epiroc has established the world’s largest fully autonomous, OEM-agnostic mine. Here, all 78 non-Epiroc haul trucks were converted from manual to autonomous operation using Epiroc’s Link OA system. The company also installed communications technology on about 250 ancillary vehicles, allowing them to interact safely with the driverless haul trucks. This initiative has led to significant productivity improvements and more efficient use of existing assets. By the end of the year, more than 3,900 machines globally—including both Epiroc and non-Epiroc equipment—were running with Epiroc automation, a 13% year-on-year increase, positioning Epiroc as a global leader in enabling autonomous mining.
Building on these advances, Epiroc also achieved a significant milestone at Boliden’s Rävliden mine in Sweden, where it implemented a five-kilometre battery trolley line using the Minetruck MT42 SG Trolley solution, developed in partnership with ABB and Boliden. The results have been impressive: Productivity increased by 23%, ramp speed by 50%, maintenance costs dropped by 25%, and diesel consumption was reduced by 80%. Additionally, regenerative energy during downhill hauls further improved overall efficiency.
Another example of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) in operation comes from the Assmang Black Rock mine in South Africa. Epiroc’s BEV fleet has delivered 11% more tonnes per hour while reducing ventilation and energy costs by 18% compared to traditional diesel equipment.
Overall, Hedblom reported that electrification revenues made up 3.8% (compared to 4.2% previously) of Group revenues. To date, 40 mines worldwide have placed orders for Epiroc’s BEVs, with most 2025 orders coming from existing customers—a strong vote of confidence in the company’s innovative solutions.
