Micromine has successfully implemented Pitram Optimum at Gold Fields’ Damang gold mine in Ghana. Pitram, a mine control and management reporting solution, should help the operation increase production, reduce costs, and improve safety and business intelligence capabilities, Micromine says. Located in southwest Ghana, Damang is an open pit gold mine. Gold Fields processes 5.1 Mt/y of gold ore from a blend of some 37% oxide and 63% sulphide ore. The current planned depth of the Damang pit is 300 m. It is estimated that the current mineral reserve will be depleted by 2019, although exploration indicates that the life of mine could be extended.Gold Fields’ FMS and Projects Supervisor, Barrett Blaauw, comments that “Pitram was selected because of its ability to integrate the production planning and optimisation process into the real-time environment. The software went ‘live’ in February 2012. Micromine has provided us with good after-sales services and technical support.
“The biggest hurdle for us has been convincing operators in the field to utilise the new software to their advantage. Fortunately, an increasing number of miners in Africa are experiencing the benefits that automation solutions such as Pitram provide”.
Blaauw concludes that he is optimistic about the African mining sector’s future and that “Both of our Ghanaian mines have ambitious expansion plans which could extend their lives. A strong fleet is essential to our current and future operations. Damang currently has 22 automated vehicles, and using Pitram Optimum, we plan to automate a further 12 vehicles within the next few months”.
Pitram Optimum is one of four solutions that comprise the Pitram product suite. The Pitram suite provides a unique upgrade path from the entry level Pitram Report solution, through to the fully automated Pitram Optimum Solution.
Micromine South Africa General Manager, Marc Ramsey, comments, “Because Pitram Optimum integrates production planning and optimisation, Damang will see a significant improvement in the execution of mine plans and the maximisation of asset utilisation and efficiency. Damang management will be able to compare actual findings against plans, and have the ability to correct deviations from plans.
“Also, through intuitive equipment allocation, Damang can optimise production, reduce wait time and execute shift plans according to design or blending requirements. This will allow business targets to be achieved at the lowest possible cost,” Ramsey concludes.