Coordinated production and charging strategies for battery-electric load-haul-dump fleets in underground mining

Fleet electrification is a key pathway for decarbonising underground mining, but it also changes mine operation substantially, as charging requirements directly affect equipment availability and production scheduling. This paper proposes a mixed-integer linear programming model that jointly optimises extraction and charging decisions for battery-electric load-haul-dump fleets. The formulation represents battery dynamics, charging logistics, and production requirements within an integrated short-term scheduling framework. Results from a Chilean underground copper mine show that electrification reduces energy costs by about 66% and CO2 emissions by nearly 80% relative to diesel operation. Coordinated charging under variable prices provides additional savings without affecting production.