How was 2024 for Adria Power Systems?

Each year seems to be a record-breaking year for us, and 2024 was no different. The continued high price of gold has driven strong demand from both new and long-time customers.

The strongest demand has been for our portable power substations, also known as mine power centers. These are large, mobile power distribution units essential for supplying electricity throughout mining operations. Despite being portable, each unit weighs over 15,000 pounds and forms the backbone of a mine's electrical infrastructure. These units are seeing a significant surge in demand, particularly as feasibility studies and new operational projects multiply in response to high commodity prices.

How are mines’ electricity requirements evolving over time?

As mines move toward electrification of heavy machinery, the demand on the electrical infrastructure increases. Electrifying vehicles introduces an additional energy load that must be supported. While the core infrastructure remains the same, greater capacity and system resilience are required to integrate electric machinery. The primary challenge lies in ensuring the electrical systems can support the added load, rather than a complete overhaul of existing infrastructure.

Can you tell us about your collaboration with OEMs and the importance of compatibility testing?

Adria is an independent company, and we do not manufacture mining machines ourselves. That independence allows us to collaborate with multiple OEMs. Compatibility is crucial to ensure our chargers work seamlessly with various electric vehicles used in mining. We engage in off-site collaboration to complete thorough compatibility testing. This guarantees that once equipment is delivered, it functions as intended without any integration issues. These collaborations are ongoing, and we have already achieved compatibility with most major OEMs globally, including new partnerships in Australia.

Could you explain more about the technical aspects of compatibility?

A good analogy comes from the automotive world, where standards like CCS1, CCS2, and NACS ensure that vehicles and chargers from different manufacturers can work together. In the automotive industries, there are also many annual testing events, called “testivals,” where auto manufacturer and commercial charger manufacturer can get together to do compatibility testing. In mining, such compatibility testing events do not yet exist. We must therefore initiate direct collaborations with OEMs to perform compatibility tests, ensuring seamless operation between our charging infrastructure and their vehicles. Compatibility involves multiple layers – electrical standards, communication protocols, and safety systems. Most underground vehicles use CCS, while open-pit vehicles are moving toward the MCS (Megawatt Charging System) standard due to their much larger power requirements. For example, MCS chargers support power levels up to six megawatts, necessary for massive mining trucks of 250 tons capacity and higher.

Adria also contributed to Québec's first 100% electric 40-ton open-pit truck project. What was your role in that initiative?

Adria's role was to supply the charging infrastructure. We launched a one-megawatt charger, which at the time was the world’s most powerful heavy-duty mining charger. These pioneering projects have been instrumental in shaping our expertise and credibility in the field of mining electrification.

What does this project say about Québec’s circular economy and mining leadership?

This project highlights Québec's dual strength as both a global resource hub and a technology leader. The province excels not only in mining but also in developing advanced support technologies. Globally, Québec is recognized for its expertise in all facets of mining. Collaborations like this, involving local resources, local manufacturing, and local technology, showcase the potential for a circular economy where resources mined in Québec are used in Québec-made vehicles supported by Québec-made infrastructure.

Looking ahead, what are your goals for Adria over the next 12 to 18 months?

We anticipate continued strong growth. We recently delivered a new version of our underground charger, and we expect that to gain wider traction. On the open-pit side, we are working with MCS technologies and plan to deploy field units for testing within the next year. At the same time, market conditions could influence our direction. Mining companies may prioritize immediate resource extraction over adopting new technologies due to high commodity prices. Even so, we are already seeing booked orders for the next fiscal year that exceed those of the last. We expect to double our production volume in the next 12 months and remain committed to maintaining both technological advancement and operational excellence.