Suncor’ s Fort Hills field has entered a new operational era with the official commissioning of the largest PC9000 hydraulic mining shovel on the market. The unit marks a shift in the oil sands mining strategy to large-scale equipment to improve production efficiency.
PC9000 hydraulic mining shovel operation
The arrival of the PC9000 is the result of a close collaboration between Komatsu Germany Mining DivisionSMS Equipment and Suncor. This machine is designed to work in conjunction with Suncor’s fleet of 980E trucks, and is optimized to load five accurate passes per cycle, minimizing spillage and speeding up loading time.
The PC9000 offers superior digging force, a longer reach arm and the ability to load from both sides. This configuration minimizes repositioning time and is ideally suited to the complex geology of Fort Hills. In addition, its diesel drive is an advantage over conventional rope shovels, providing greater operational flexibility.
The components were shipped from Germany and assembled directly at the Fort Hills plant. The company Komatsu has deployed technical personnel to oversee commissioning and train operators, ensuring efficient integration into the site’s productive rhythm.
The integration of the PC9000 begins to generate tangible results in terms of productivity and cost per ton. The modular design of the machine, coupled with direct feedback from Suncor operators, will influence future versions of the equipment. A second unit is expected to arrive in July and two more over the next year.
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Source and photo: Suncor
