Last month, we exhibited at The Electric Mine 2025 conference in Chile — a gathering of people across the mining world who are all working toward a cleaner, smarter, electrified future for the industry.

The trip was a great opportunity to connect, learn, and get a clearer picture of where electrification in mining is headed, and how Alta fits into that journey.

Electrification Is the Goal, But It’s Not an Easy Road

There’s no doubt the industry is moving towards electrification. But the general feeling at the event was that it’s going to take time. Big hurdles remain, like the high upfront costs, pressure on local grids during charging, and the challenge of upgrading existing fleets.

Clean energy isn’t always available where it’s needed either. So while the destination is clear, the path there will take different shapes depending on each mine’s setup.

One encouraging theme was the growing role of automation — which not only increases efficiency, but also helps reduce emissions and increase safety through smarter driving and fewer hold-ups during blasting.

Why Hybrid Is Getting Real Traction

One of the biggest takeaways from the event? Hybrid power systems are gaining serious momentum.

They’re proving especially valuable in countries like Chile and Peru, where steep mining routes offer strong regenerative braking potential. Full mining electrification might not be practical for every site right now, but hybrid retrofits offer the intermediary step required.

In an industry where efficiency is key, solutions must be at least performance-neutral, if not better. Miners reported real-world fuel savings between 20–30%, with some cases reaching as high as 35%, dispelling the myth that decarbonisation comes at the cost of output. These results reinforce that the business case is just as strong as the environmental one.

Hybrid trucks are already being trialled or rolled out across South America, especially in open-pit operations where they can make the biggest impact.

A Willingness to Work Together

What really stood out at the event was the spirit of collaboration. Whether it was mine operators or tech suppliers — even some that would normally be seen as competitors — people were open to working together.

In South America in particular, there’s a real openness to new ideas and international partnerships. While the region may not have as many contractors as Australia, the appetite for innovation is just as strong.

Importantly, many miners made it clear: anydecarbonisation strategyneeds to protect, or even improve, productivity.

Where Alta Fits In

Discussions at Electric Mine highlighted strong interest in hybrid retrofit systems, particularly for widely used models such as the Komatsu 930E and 980E, Hitachi EH series, and CAT mechanical drive fleets. There was also curiosity around adapting these systems for smaller trucks and more complex configurations, where flexibility becomes crucial.

Alta’s ability to manufacture core components in-house (such as DC/DC converters and traction inverters) positions us to meet these needs with greater adaptability and long-term support.

What About OEM Certification?

Some of the larger or government-run mining companies still prefer retrofit solutions that are certified by the OEM — which makes sense, especially when warranties are on the line.

But there’s also a shift happening. As the technology proves itself in the field, more companies seem open to OEM-agnostic systems, as long as they’re safe, reliable, and deliver results.