OREANDA-NEWS   The Russian company Kaluga Engine has developed a gas turbine power plant for the BelAZ dump truck. The system, capable of functioning under any temperature conditions, runs on methane.

The unit passed the necessary technical tests at the factory, after which its engine was installed on a 90-ton dump truck. The Belarusian machine should work 200 hours with the domestic installation. According to the developers, the gas turbine engine is easier to maintain, more economical, and also more environmentally friendly than existing internal combustion engines. The 1200-horsepower unit consists of a power module with a free turbine that rotates a synchronous generator. The latter, in turn, feeds the motor wheels of the dump truck.

In addition to the gas turbine plant, Belarusian specialists have found a replacement for American Cummins diesel engines, which ceased to be supplied to the country after the introduction of anti-Belarusian sanctions. Engineers plan to test 2300-horsepower units at BelAZ, which are equipped with Russian diesel locomotives.