The mining company is taking production to a new level. In the second quarter of 2026, testing of the Norda mechanized complex will begin at the Taimyrsky mine. This machine weighs almost 700 tons and its length reaches 160 meters. The equipment has already been sent to Norilsk, where it will be assembled and prepared.
The main feature of Norda is that it will work in ore. Such complexes were previously used only in metro construction or in coal mines. In metal mining, such equipment has not yet been used anywhere in the world. Norilsk Nickel is a pioneer.
The company expects that the new product will dramatically increase the penetration rate. The target is 500 meters per month. At the same time, the potential allows us to double this figure. In the first year, with the help of the complex they plan to extract 150 thousand tons of rich ore from the Severnaya-4 deposit. In the future, volumes will increase to half a million tons.
The development of the technology took more than ten years. It was created jointly with the Mining Technology Industry company. The fundamental difference of the new method is the abandonment of explosions. Instead of drilling and blasting, mechanical rock chipping is used. This eliminates destructive effects on the array and does the job safer for people.
Safety has generally become a separate priority. The complex is equipped with an emergency capsule capable of supporting the life of the entire crew for a month in autonomous mode.
Norda’s control is fully automated. All key parameters – performance, node status, downtime – are transmitted in real time to the operator’s console on the surface. This is the first step towards completely eliminating the presence of people in the slaughterhouse. The company’s plans are to automate the hauling of ore and gradually move to unmanned mining.
A special chamber was prepared for installation of the complex at the mine. The assembly is supervised by engineers from the manufacturing plant, Russian contractors and Taimyrsky specialists. Everyone who has to work on new technologyhave already completed training. Additionally, about 300 tons of spare parts and auxiliary equipment will be delivered to Norilsk – this will be enough for several years of uninterrupted operation.
The company believes that the launch of Norda is not just an update of the vehicle fleet. This is a change in the technological structure for the entire mining industry. The project proves that even traditional industry is capable of a breakthrough if you combine bold engineering solutions, science and a focus on human safety.
Source: Norilsk Nickel
Image generated by a neural network
