Mining equipment manufacturer Epiroc (STO: EPI-A) has opened a multipurpose facility for the industry in the city of Elko, Nevada.
The Sweden-based tool and equipment producer announced opening the National Competency Center for Underground Mining on Wednesday. The 48,000-square-foot facility has a large workshop with several machine bays, a training centre, ample office space and an outdoor staging area.
“This facility embodies our commitment to helping customers build the mines of the future, delivering reliable, trustworthy expertise,” Jon Torpy, Epiroc USA President, said. He says the centre will assist with the company’s goal of contributing to sustainable development in the industry.
The facility will be capable of catering to the entire United States market and its employees have a diverse knowledge base, according to Epiroc. The company says it will provide advanced comprehensive technical assistance to operators engaged with underground mining in the country and Nevada in particular.
Epiroc has expertise in electrification and diesel-to-battery conversions, machine rebuilds, component replacement and various other things. The company supplies ventilation systems, drill bits, loaders, trucks and more.
Epiroc’s SmartROC T45 surface drill rig used for quarrying and construction, one of many products. Photo via Epiroc
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Centre sits in world’s top mining jurisdiction
Nevada produces over 20 metals and minerals needed for a wide variety of applications. The state is renowned for being the number one mining jurisdiction on Earth.
It is home to the major Silver Peak lithium mine owned and operated by the world’s leading battery metal producer Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB). The state also hosts the Thacker Pass lithium operation being developed by Lithium Americas (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC).
Nevada produces more gold than any other American state as well. Major miners like Barrick Gold Corporation (TSX: ABX) (NYSE: GOLD), Newmont Corporation (TSX: NGT) (NYSE: NEM) and Kinross Gold (TSX: K) have made vast amounts of money from operations there.
Kinross produced over 226,000 gold equivalent ounces at its Round Mountain open-pit mine in Nye County last year.
Mid-tier producers like Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB) (OTCQX: CXBMF) have substantial gold mining infrastructure in Nevada too. Calibre significantly expanded its resources at the Pan mine this summer and will begin producing gold at the neighbouring Gold Rock project in 2024.
The state has over 180,000 active mining claims, accounting for 49 per cent of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s American portfolio.
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