Glencore Hits New Depth Milestone at All-Electric Sudbury Mine

Glencore Canada has marked a fresh milestone at its Onaping Depth project in Sudbury, Ontario, where ore extraction is going fully electric. The site is being developed to tap high-grade nickel and copper deposits lying roughly 8,500 feet beneath the surface — a depth that rules out conventional diesel equipment on both practical and ventilation grounds.

Instead of diesel loaders and trucks, the operation relies on battery-electric machines designed to work in the deep, confined environment while cutting underground emissions and heat. Reaching this latest stage of the project signals continued progress on what Glencore positions as one of the more ambitious electrified mining developments in the region.

The minerals extracted at Sudbury matter well beyond the mine gate: nickel and copper are core inputs for EV batteries, wiring, and charging infrastructure. That gives the project a place in the broader conversation about where the raw materials for electric mobility come from — and how they are pulled out of the ground.