Ferrexpo working with Epiroc recently successfully completed the first phase of its autonomy drill rig project at its Yeristovo iron ore operation to remotely operate drill rigs at Ferrexpo Yeristovo Mining (FYM) from the Group’s mine control room. In its full year report for 2019 published in April 2020, the company states: “The first stage of implementation of FYM’s automated drill rigs has been completed, and drills are now operated by teleremote mode from the Group’s centralised mine control room. Use of drones to survey the pit area has also been implemented at FYM.”

In April 2019, an Epiroc Pit Viper 275 was commissioned while a second autonomous drill rig became operational in September 2019. A third rig was converted in January 2020 with the group’s aim to progressively convert all of the its Pit Viper rigs into autonomous drills. The project is expected to improve safety conditions and to increase the efficiency of drilling operations. It is anticipated that one operator will be able to manage three autonomous drills once the project is completed.