LKAB set for future after major ABB-led hoists upgrade at Kiruna

The Swedish mining company first awarded the key contract to ABB in 2014 and is now commissioning the project on schedule and below budget, marking a major achievement for both companies.

The world’s largest underground iron ore mine and home to the biggest installed base of ABB mine hoists globally, Kiruna has 13 mine hoists in total. With the newly upgraded infrastructure, LKAB can confidently secure its iron ore supply for decades, continuing to meet the growing global demands for the mineral, crucial to industries such as steel manufacturing and end uses in construction, transportation, machinery, and consumer goods.

LKAB already mines no less than 80% of all iron ore in the European Union and this latest long-term strategic effort will further enhance operational reliability and maximise productivity. ABB’s upgrades to seven mine hoists include integrated mechanical, electrical and automation systems, which will support high-performance hoisting operations. This move is designed to ensure the safe and efficient lifting of ore in two stages from depths of 1365 m, a task essential to keeping production running smoothly at full capacity.

Jan Moström, CEO at LKAB, said:

“Taking productivity to another level, this project is about maximising safety, minimising downtime, and contributing to meeting global iron ore demand. These mine hoists play an integral part of our operations and, by partnering with ABB, we’re ensuring the Kiruna mine remains a benchmark of safety and efficiency for decades to come.”

Björn Jonsson, Global Business Line Manager for Hoisting at ABB Process Industries, said:

“Hoisting is the most efficient way to transport ore from great depths. The solutions we have put in place have been designed around the need to future-proof one of the world’s largest and most productive mines. Working closely with LKAB, we have delivered an upgrade that ensures the flexibility necessary for the long-term success of operations for at least the next quarter of a century.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/finance-business/29042025/lkab-set-for-future-after-major-abb-led-hoists-upgrade-at-kiruna/