EPOS is a Portuguese specialist in underground construction and mine civil works, delivering tunnelling, decline/drift development, water infrastructure and geotechnical monitoring for complex mining projects.

Core capabilities:

• Underground tunnelling, declines, shafts and cavern construction.

• Mine-site civil works: reservoirs, penstocks, concrete structures and drainage systems.

• Geotechnical instrumentation & monitoring (piezometers, extensometers, inclinometers).

• Ground support and rock reinforcement (shotcrete, rockbolting).

• Integrated delivery linking civil and mining teams to minimise interfaces and risk.
   

Role at Somincor

Long-term contractor delivering underground excavation, water-management reservoirs (e.g., Cerro da Mina), and instrumented geotechnical works that support safe ore logistics and Somincor’s paste-tailings/water recirculation strategy.

Key strengths (bullets):

• Proven track record on technically demanding subterranean projects.

• Strong local/regional experience with international tunnelling best practice.

• Emphasis on safety, environmental mitigation and low-surface footprint solutions.

• Ability to integrate construction delivery with mine operations and monitoring systems.
   

Commercial / compliance checklist (suggest to include on enquiry form):

• Available scope (describe works required)

• Previous project references (similar scale / geology)

• Typical delivery timeline and key milestones

• Health & Safety record and IMS certifications (OSHA/ISO or local equivalents)

• Insurance limits and bonding capacity

• Local content & subcontracting approach

• Proposed commercial terms / indicative rate card
  
  
  
   

Sandvik Drives Somincor’s Underground Transformation with AutoMine Automation and Fleet Excellence

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is a global leader in underground mining technology, specializing in automation, loader and drill systems, and digital mine management. At Somincor’s Neves-Corvo mine—now operating under Boliden Somincor—Sandvik has been central to the modernization strategy, enabling higher production rates, enhanced safety, and operational resilience through its AutoMine automation platform and robust fleet equipment.

Role & Contribution at Neves-Corvo

Sandvik’s partnership with Neves-Corvo encompasses a multi-phased deployment of AutoMine Lite and Multi-Lite systems, integrating autonomous control over loaders and haulage in critical production zones. These systems allow the mine to automate mucking during blast clearance and shift changes, expanding into multi-machine remote operation and increasing utilization while removing operators from higher-risk environments.

Key equipment and capabilities provided include:

• Autonomous loaders (e.g., Sandvik Toro series) equipped with AutoMine for hands-free material movement, improving cycle times and reducing exposure to underground hazards.

• Drilling rigs and rock excavation solutions that support development and production drilling, enabling precise ore extraction and development advancement.

• Fleet management and diagnostics integrated into the mine’s digital operations, supplying real-time data on machine health, performance, and optimization opportunities.

Technical Differentiators

Sandvik differentiates itself at Neves-Corvo through the convergence of automation, safety, and data:

• AutoMine automation suite, which enables scalability from single-machine operations to fully coordinated multi-machine production systems with remote supervision.

• Real-time optimization of haulage cycles and energy use through predictive analytics tied to fleet telemetry.

• Integration with mine control systems, allowing Sandvik equipment to feed seamlessly into broader digital dashboards, supporting maintenance forecasting and strategic decision-making.

• Safety-by-design, where autonomous operation reduces human exposure in hazardous zones and integrated collision avoidance systems protect personnel and equipment.

Value Delivered

Sandvik’s technology has materially increased productivity at Neves-Corvo while lowering operational risk. By automating substantial portions of stope mucking and haulage—accounting for over 60% of such activity during key transitions—the mine has targeted higher ore hoisting volumes with a 2025 goal of over 3.1 million tonnes. The reduction in unplanned downtime, combined with improved operator efficiency and safety outcomes, has enhanced the mine’s cost control and throughput predictability.

Strategic Fit for Executives & Investors

For infrastructure and mining executives, Sandvik represents the premium partner that turns physical mining assets into digitally empowered, safer, and higher-yielding operations. The AutoMine integration at Neves-Corvo demonstrates how deploying automation not only improves margins but also strengthens environmental and social governance by minimizing the human footprint in hazardous tasks. Investors tracking productivity upgrades will see Sandvik’s systems as enablers of sustained performance uplift and lower operational volatility.

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