MINSK – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday visited Belaz – the world’s largest mining truck manufacturer with the latest model capable of carrying over 450 metric tons.
The prime minister was taken around the plant which manufactures one in three of the dump trucks produced globally. He evinced keen interest in capability of the company and asked questions about various processes involved and whether the company was building all the components locally or acquiring it from other manufacturers.
He was told that most of the components were manufactured at the plant. The prime minister was briefed about the manufacturing facility and was informed that the company has made it to the Guinness Book of World Records and has no competitor.
Nawaz Sharif said he was very impressed to see the facility, the expertise and technological advancement. “I am sure Pakistan will be one of the countries to benefit from the Belaz trucks,” he said. The prime minister was also shown the company's showpiece – Belaz 75710 the biggest dump truck in the world, one capable of moving 450 tonnes in one go.
The 26ft (8.2 metres)-high truck has a top speed of 40mph (64km/h), and can still travel at 25mph (40km/h) while climbing a 10% gradient. The monster truck has a diesel-electric transmission system. Two 16-cylinder diesel engines drive generators which produce electricity to power four electric motors. The truck consumes an estimated 1,300 litres of fuel per 100km.
The Belarusian Autoworks is one of the leading producers of construction machinery and vehicles for open-pit mining. In 2013, the company rolled out the world's largest mining truck with the carrying capacity of 450 tonnes and the record lifting capacity of over 503 tonnes. Since the company was established it has designed more than 500 modifications of vehicles and manufactured over 135,000 huge trucks that are now being operated all over the world.
Belaz branded equipment operates in 70 countries around the world. Belaz dump trucks represent 30% of the world's population in earth moving and mineral extraction applications. Electric drive trucks range in capacity from 110mt (120 tons) to 360mt (400 tons). Mechanical drive trucks are available in capacities from 30mt (33 tons) to 90mt (100 tons).
The company also manufactures road construction vehicles and mining and transport equipment service vehicles: loaders, bulldozers, concrete mixer trucks, scrapers and tow trucks. The prime minister was presented a model of the truck, made of the same metal and a group photo of his visit to the factory.
The prime minister was accompanied by his delegation including Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid, Minister for Commerce Khurrum Dastgir, Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer, Minister for National Food Security Sikandar Hayat Bosan and Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi.
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