Press-centre

1 november 2023

General Director of OJSC “BELAZ” Sergey Nikiforovich spoke today at the strategic session of the 12th St. Petersburg International Gas Forum.

“We are actively working on projects to create gas–powered dump trucks in two directions: mono-fuel trucks running on liquefied or compressed natural gas and dual-fuel dump trucks operated in gas-diesel mode.” Sergey Nikiforovich noted while talking about the development of the product line of BELAZ gas-engine mining equipment with payload capacity from 30 to 136 tons.

It has been over three years since the company produced its first 30- and 45-ton gas-powered dump trucks, which proved their reliability and efficiency in real mining conditions: emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere have decreased 10 times, and fuel costs have almost halved compared to the diesel equivalents.

Also during his speech, the General Director of OJSC “BELAZ” elaborated on the main characteristics and all the advantages of the newest product of the company– the 90-ton liquefied natural gas (LNG) dump truck BELAZ-7558N, which is presented during the forum at the open exhibition exposition at the EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Center.

“The gas engine of a dump truck is up to 35% more fuel-efficient than its diesel equivalent and much more environmentally friendly than a standard diesel engine. Taking into account the permanent price increase of diesel fuel and price stability of LNG, the savings during the operation of BELAZ-7558N can reach 10 million Russian rubles per unit of equipment per year,” Sergey Nikiforovich emphasized. “Next year we are planning to launch a similar dump truck in the range of payload capacity from 130 up to136 tons. Here the economic effect of the introduction of LNG engines is even more significant –about 25 million Russian rubles per unit of equipment per year.”

Experience shows that gas-powered dump trucks are much cheaper to operate than their diesel equivalents, which means they increase the production profitability. Other important advantages are an increased service life of the gas engine, as well as the convenience of "gasification" of dump trucks concentrated in one place and the ability to be serviced by one gas station. Another undoubted advantage is the environmental friendliness of such equipment that allows to significantly reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

“Today we see interest in gas-powered mining equipment on the part of our customers,” the General Director of OJSC “BELAZ” stated. “Russian leading companies in the mining industry have become interested in gas-powered dump trucks. In our opinion, the use of LNG equipment can be particularly profitable and effective for the northern regions. There the cost of producing gas as a motor fuel is significantly lower than the cost of delivering diesel fuel. However, I am sure that in other Russian regions, interest in gas-powered equipment will grow along with the development of appropriate infrastructure, which will make gas fuel more affordable and economically profitable for mining companies.”

The participants of the strategic session discussed the prospects for expanding the use of natural gas in the mining equipment industry and the implementation of joint projects within the framework of cooperation between industrial complexes of Russia and Belarus.

During that eventful day, Sergey Nikiforovich also visited the St. Petersburg Mining University of the Empress Catherine II, which celebrates its 250th anniversary. He congratulated the most authoritative Russian University on its anniversary, handing over memorable gifts and congratulatory addresses on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Belarus and BELAZ.

At the meeting with the Rector of the University Vladimir Litvinenko, topical aspects of the further development of bilateral partnership were discussed. BELAZ and the St. Petersburg Mining University have been successfully cooperating for many years. BELAZ Center of Innovative Competencies operates on the basis of the University and is aimed at scientific and technical training of highly qualified mining experts as well as the formation of a new generation of technical intelligentsia.