NioCorp adopts electric Railveyor system for Nebraska Elk Creek mine design
NioCorp has integrated an automated electric haulage system into the feasibility study for its Nebraska critical minerals project, a move that significantly cuts projected capital and operating costs while advancing the mine's decarbonization strategy.
NioCorp has incorporated the fully electric Railveyor haulage system into the updated feasibility study for its Elk Creek critical minerals project in Nebraska. The August NI 43-101 Technical Report confirms the automated technology will serve as the principal underground-to-surface material transport solution.
The revised mine design abandons a previous twin-shaft concept in favor of a two-ramp configuration. The South Ramp is dedicated exclusively to the Railveyor system, while the North Ramp handles personnel, equipment and service access. This updated layout supports an integrated underground mine and processing operation targeting 3,047 tons per day of steady-state production.
For investors, the design shift offers substantial economic advantages over the earlier shaft configuration. A previous scoping study estimated the new concept could slash initial underground capital requirements by 53 percent. The company also projects ongoing operating cost savings of $0.63 per tonne across the 40-year production life of the 46-million-short-ton mineral reserve.
The automated material-handling network includes underground loading stations, surface discharge loops, track switches and maintenance facilities. NioCorp chief operating officer Scott Honan noted the system fits the underground environment and can be maintained by workers with basic mining skills. The Railveyor ramp will also integrate directly into the overall ventilation architecture.
This technology aligns with Elk Creek’s broader strategy to prioritize battery-electric underground equipment, which reduces emissions, heat loads and ventilation demands. Railveyor chief executive Tas Mohamed emphasized a shift in industry thinking regarding mine electrification.
“The mining industry has traditionally asked: How do we replace this diesel machine with an electric machine?” Mohamed said. “I think the better question is: How do we design the mine differently if electricity is our primary source of energy?”
The Elk Creek deployment follows a successful 2024 implementation by Agnico Eagle Mines at its Goldex complex in Val-d’Or, Quebec. That operation reported a 39 percent reduction in carbon emissions and operating expense cuts of up to 75 percent using the same automated track system.
