The same logic appears across the T35 MKII and T45 MKII, and the T25 now aligns with that platform standard, including a 12-inch display consistent across the family

Decision Lens

The T25 MKII is not aimed at large-scale open-pit blast hole fleets. It is a 129 kW rig designed for construction, civil engineering, and quarrying — a bracket where fuel efficiency gains and operator ergonomics carry disproportionate weight relative to production scale. For Mining Operations Directors running quarry-style operations, junior mine sites, or civil construction programs within a larger mine footprint, the adaptive control system and simplified maintenance design are worth evaluating. For directors operating high-tonnage open-pit mines with heavy rotary fleets, the T25 MKII is a peripheral signal rather than a direct procurement decision.

90-Second Brief

Now, epiroc launched the upgraded PowerROC T25 MKII with orders open from April 1, 2026. The rig runs a new 129 kW Volvo diesel engine paired with a control system that automatically matches engine speed to real-time drilling demand. It is available in long-feed and short-feed configurations, and a modular design is intended to reduce maintenance complexity and spare parts inventory burden.

What’s Actually Happening

The central engineering change in the T25 MKII is a revised PowerROC control system that continuously adjusts engine speed to match actual drilling load rather than running at fixed output. This is a fuel management mechanism — it prevents the engine from burning fuel at peak capacity during lighter drilling phases. The same logic appears across the T35 MKII and T45 MKII, and the T25 now aligns with that platform standard, including a 12-inch display consistent across the family.

The modular design is the other operationally significant change. By standardizing components for easier swap-out, Epiroc directly addresses the maintenance overhead that small rig operators face in remote or resource-constrained environments — situations where a parts backlog on a single rig creates a proportionally large production disruption. A redesigned cabin with improved sightlines, reduced vibration, and an ergonomic layout rounds out a package aimed at the two most common friction points for smaller surface rig operators: fuel cost and physical fatigue.

The rig is offered in Tier 3 and Tier 4 Final/Stage V engine configurations, giving it regulatory applicability across jurisdictions with varying emissions standards — relevant wherever Tier 4 Final equivalency is now mandatory.

Why It Matters for Mining Operations Directors?

The T25 MKII is unlikely to replace equipment in a large open-pit drill-and-blast program. However, several operational contexts within a mining director’s scope make this rig directly relevant.

Construction-phase drilling within an active mine site — road cuttings, civil infrastructure, ancillary development — often relies on contractor-supplied quarrying-class rigs in this power bracket. Understanding what fuel efficiency and maintenance characteristics are now available in this class helps directors set more precise contractor equipment requirements and performance expectations.

For smaller operations — junior mines, satellite pits, or quarrying-adjacent assets within a diversified portfolio — the adaptive engine control translates to measurable diesel savings over sustained drilling programs. At sites where fuel is flown or trucked in at significant cost, that efficiency gain has direct AISC implications. The modular maintenance design also matters in remote sites with limited workshop infrastructure, where reducing spare parts inventory complexity carries genuine cost and availability benefits.

Operator comfort and cabin quality are increasingly material for FIFO workforce retention. A rig that reduces noise, vibration, and physical fatigue across an eight- or twelve-hour shift is a legitimate factor in operator performance and roster stability — a pressure point that mining directors in remote locations are actively managing.

The Forward View

The T25 MKII continues Epiroc’s standardization of the PowerROC platform across size classes. With the T35 and T45 already carrying the MKII designation, the T25 update completes a consistent product family — which matters for fleet operators managing multiple rig sizes, as it simplifies training, software interfaces, and parts interchangeability across the range.

The adaptive engine speed control approach visible in this platform is also an indicator of the direction Epiroc is taking ahead of electrification decisions for smaller surface rigs. Optimizing combustion efficiency now builds operational data on load profiles and demand cycles — the same data that would inform battery sizing and charging infrastructure requirements for a future battery-electric equivalent. Directors tracking the electrification trajectory of their light and medium surface drill fleet should monitor how this control architecture evolves across the PowerROC line over the next product cycle.

What We’re Uncertain About?

  • Quantified fuel savings versus the prior T25 model. Epiroc describes fuel optimization as a benefit of the adaptive control system but has not published a specific efficiency improvement figure. What would resolve this: independent field performance data or Epiroc-published comparison metrics from controlled test conditions.

  • Applicability to mining-grade blast hole drilling. The source positions the T25 MKII explicitly for quarrying and construction. Whether the rig’s specifications — feed force, hole diameter range, and single-pass depth — are adequate for blast hole patterns at junior mining operations is not addressed in available material. What would resolve this: Epiroc’s published drilling specifications table for the T25 MKII measured against common mining blast hole diameters and depths.

  • Regional availability and lead times. Orders opened globally on April 1, 2026, but delivery timelines, regional service network coverage, and the Tier 3 versus Tier 4 market split are not disclosed. For remote-site operators, lead time and local service support are often more decisive than specifications. What would resolve this: Epiroc distributor confirmation by jurisdiction.

One Question to Bring to Your Team

Where in our current operations — construction contracts, junior assets, or civil programs — are we accepting older quarrying-class drill rigs with no fuel efficiency or maintenance specifications in the contract, and what would it cost us to update those requirements for the next contractor cycle?

Sources

  • Agg-net — Epiroc launch upgraded PowerROC T25 MKII drill rig | Agg-Net (Link)

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