All posts by Paul Moore

EACON Mining adds 6th AHS customer with deployment in only 17 days

Automation, Bulk handling, Coal technology, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, Sustainable mining

EACON Mining says it has once again demonstrated its expertise in the field of opencast coal mining with its 6th AHS contract. The latest project is the Shitoumei coal mine in northwest China with reserves of 10 billion tons and an annual production capacity of over 15 million tons. EACON deployed more than 20 hybrid and diesel trucks and says it achieved a fully operational autonomous fleet in just 17 days.

EACON has deployed a total of 23 autonomous mining trucks in the initial phase, which are organised into three shovel truck fleets. These fleets consist of 13 hybrid EL100 trucks with a payload of 90 tons and 10 diesel-powered trucks with a payload of 70 tons, which are used for overburden mining and coal extraction. All trucks were mobilised by EACON from other projects. Both models were equipped with EACON drive-by-wire systems and ORCASTRA™ Pilot, EACON’s autonomous driving system, at the LGMG and Tonly plants.

EACON now has more than 250 EL100 trucks in operation, which have already covered 7.4 million kilometres autonomously. The continuous development of the turnkey AHS solution for coal mines EACON says ensures rapid deployment within remarkably short time frames. As of March 9, EACON has deployed the entire autonomous fleet at Shitoumei coal mine within 17 days, from initial setup to full operation, without safety drivers.

Elaine Jin, COO of EACON Mining Australia, said: “In the coal mine overburden removal sector, EACON’s AHS solution has matured significantly, enabling rapid deployment in similar scenarios and significantly reducing the time and cost of implementing an autonomous haulage solution. Building on the foundation laid in coal mines, EACON will extend its AHS solution to metal mines, including gold and iron mines, in 2024.”

Glencore Canada gets federal funding boost for all electric mining fleet at Onaping Depth

Base metals, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mine shafts and equipment, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining

Canada’s pollution pricing system creates incentives for industries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, drives innovation and sustainable business practices, and fosters a cleaner, more environmentally responsible future.

Through the Decarbonization Incentive Program, the Government of Canada returns a portion of the proceeds collected from the federal pollution price on large industrial emitters to support clean technology projects. It says this funding will enable eligible facilities to achieve greater energy efficiency, adopt sustainable solutions, and reduce their emissions to help build a low‑carbon world.

On May 10, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marc G. Serré, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and to the Minister of Official Languages, and Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, funding of up to C$11 million from industrial pollution pricing proceeds was announced for Glencore Canada Corporation to replace diesel-powered machinery with battery electric-powered equipment at the Craig Mine Onaping Depth nickel-copper project in Ontario. The fully implemented underground project will result in a reduction of over 5,500 t of greenhouse gas emissions in 2030.

When using diesel-powered machinery in a mine, fresh air must be provided to the workplace by a ventilation system to ensure pollutants from diesel combustion do not build up to harmful levels, and to cool the workplace. This project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and heat generation caused by the diesel-powered equipment, providing workers and surrounding communities with a safer, cleaner, and healthier environment.

The Onaping Depth fleet includes a 23-strong Epiroc electric fleet comprising Minetruck MT42 Battery underground trucks, Boomer E2 Battery development drills (pictured on-site) and Scooptram ST14 SG loaders as well as Simba production drilling rigs plus Cabletec and Boltec rock reinforcement machines. MacLean Engineering was selected to supply BEV utility machines including Boom Trucks and TM3 Transmixer EVs; with Kovatera supplying BEV personnel carriers.

By reinvesting pollution pricing proceeds in businesses, the Government of Canada says it is supporting their efforts to transition to lower-cost, renewable energy sources. It states: “Ultimately, this will benefit Canadians and communities across the nation, as cleaner air and reduced emissions contribute to improved health and well-being for all citizens. The Government of Canada remains committed to addressing climate change and recognises the leadership role that industries play in driving meaningful environmental solutions. Through partnerships and projects like these ones, the Government of Canada can accelerate collective efforts to build a sustainable and prosperous future for all Canadians.”

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change said: “Every sector of Canada’s economy needs to contribute to the climate fight by reducing carbon emissions. It is the right thing to do for our health, the health of our planet, and the health of Canada’s economy. Through the Decarbonization Incentive Program, we are empowering Canadian corporations to lead the way in fighting climate change. This investment in Glencore Canada Corporation’s project to cut pollution demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to fostering innovative climate solutions and collaborating with Canada’s industrial sectors as we build a low-carbon world. Together, we can create a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous future for all Canadians, including our children and grandchildren.”

“This federal investment will positively benefit the environment, protect workers from harmful pollution, and help Canada reach its net-zero goals. I commend Glencore for their continued commitment to reducing emissions and prioritising projects like this one. Northern Ontario’s mining sector continues to be a leader the green energy transition! Congratulations to all, I look forward to seeing the positive impacts at the Craig Onaping Depth mining expansion project,” said Marc G. Serré, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and to the Minister of Official Languages.

“The Decarbonization Incentive Program enables industries, like mining, to foster a cleaner, more sustainable approach to resource extraction, while also paving the way for a greener future. This program encourages industry leaders to innovate and reduce their carbon footprint, demonstrating that responsible industry practices can lead to economic growth and prosperity. I applaud Glencore Canada for being a leader in our transition to a low carbon future and creating a more sustainable future for Sudbury,” said Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury.

“We are grateful to be recognised for merits and awarded Decarbonization Incentive Program funding from the federal government. This significant funding will help accelerate the adoption of green battery electric vehicle technology at our Craig Mine Onaping Depth Project, which is currently under construction. Transitioning to electric mining vehicles reduces greenhouse gas emissions from mining machinery and mine ventilation and supports not only Glencore’s climate change goals and targets, but also municipal, provincial, and federal climate change plans,” said Peter Xavier, Vice President, Glencore’s Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations.

Antofagasta Minerals banks on flexible trolley and battery retrofit to help meet 2035 targets

Base metals, Bulk handling, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mineral project development, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining techniques, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining

Chile’s Antofagasta Minerals (AMSA) is one of the world’s leading copper producers and as such has one of the largest ultraclass mining fleets in the world. Its operations include Centinela, Los Pelambres, Antucoya and Zaldivar plus it has massive expansion plans underway – notably its US$4.4 billion Nueva Centinela project, which includes the expansion of the Esperanza Sur and Encuentro open pits and a second concentrator, all of which will produce an additional 170,000 copper equivalent tonnes per annum.

So AMSA’s decisions relating to reducing mobile fleet emissions have real significance. Its strategy was broadly laid out in its recently published Climate Action Plan, subtitled ‘Our path to decarbonisation.’ Starting already in 2024, its decarbonisation initiatives will begin to influence its Scope 1 and 2 emissions curve by changing the trajectory downwards – primarily with mining trucks through a combination of trolley assist and battery conversion.

By 2030, AMSA anticipates the commercial availability and economic viability of battery kits, allowing the beginning of the conversion of its existing fleet of mining trucks. By 2035, it aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% compared to the 2020 baseline, but points out they very much depends on the availability of technically and economically feasible solutions by OEMs for the replacement of mining equipment before 2030, and the progression of Chile’s energy infrastructure in line with energy demands.

It adds: “The execution of our plan depends on many factors outside our control, including technological readiness for fast charging solutions, flexible trolley system infrastructures, cheaper batteries, and the feasibility of retrofitting for mining equipment. Our plan to meet our 2035 target depends on original equipment manufacturers submitting viable proposals to replace mining equipment by 2030, and on the country’s energy infrastructure evolving to meet the demands of the energy transition. The technology is expected to continue its evolution, providing electric charging proposals that allow us to charge a truck in less than 30 minutes and batteries with greater autonomy than those available in the industry today.”

AMSA’s Scope 1 & 2 projected emissions curve based on current strategy and enabling conditions

The company then states: “Both our plan and the industry’s decarbonisation plans depend on the cost of electrical energy and its transmission, which must decrease or at least remain within the ranges we see in today’s market. If these enabling conditions do not develop in line with our current expectations, then they would impact our ability to meet our 2035 target, considering the specific details of our situation and the broader context of the energy landscape.”

Looking at trolley, AMSA says its strategy is to start with the feasibility analysis for dynamic loading solutions and define an appropriate recommendation for each of its mining plans. “This pre-feasibility analysis is strongly linked to the success of the tests carried out by the Group on the trolley system and other technologies, maintaining our flexibility to take different paths as technology advances.”

It continues: “Subject to feasibilities being approved, we hope to begin implementing trolley systems as a first step in the electrification of our operations. We aim to develop our knowledge of trolley systems through testing in our operating conditions, validating our assumptions and helping us estimate potential impacts on mine designs. During this same period, we expect stationary charging to increase charging speeds, giving us another tool that will be integrated into the final electrification model that is expected to support all-electric trucks.”

Returning to the topic of the trucks themselves: “Our goal is to upgrade our truck fleet to battery-powered vehicles. We believe that trucks purchased towards the end of the decade will be pre-equipped for future modifications to low-carbon technologies. This transition timeline is highly dependent on the dynamic and stationary charging solutions described above, as well as the technology being available at a competitive cost.”

AMSA will be discussing some of these plans at the Electric Mine 2024 conference, coming up soon at Crown Perth, Western Australia, May 21-23. Specifically, on Day 1, May 21 at 11:20 in the Surface Mining stream, Tomás Nass, Decarbonization Manager at Antofagasta Minerals Chile will be speaking on ‘AMSA decarbonisation roadmap meets ABB technology partner ecosystem for electrification’ together with co-speaker, Ratna Kanth Dittakavi Global eMine™ Sales Manager at ABB. You can still register for the event at www.theelectricmine.com 

GR Engineering wins major Paste Plant EPC contract for Liontown’s Kathleen Valley

Bulk handling, Energy minerals, High tech minerals, Mine shafts and equipment, Mineral processing, Mining services, Water management

Liontown Resources has executed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with GR Engineering Services (GRES) for the delivery and commissioning of the paste plant facility to support the hard rock lithium underground mining operations at Kathleen Valley. The Paste Plant will include two trains capable of producing up to 160 m3 of paste per hour and has been designed to accommodate future expansion of mining operations to 4 Mt/y.

Delivery of cemented paste fill is an integral part of the underground mining cycle at Kathleen Valley, maximising recovery of the underground orebody and planned production rates, as well as reducing the size of the surface tailings dam that would otherwise be required. The Paste Plant has also been designed to facilitate dry stacking and water recovery, further increasing the amount of recycled water the site utilises.

The EPC is a standalone project, with the second train brought forward to provide latent capacity to derisk underground mining operations, enable water recovery and to capture cost economies associated with constructing the two trains together. Valued at approximately A$71 million, the EPC forms part of planned and budgeted next stage of growth capital costs post first production and funding is contemplated under the recently announced A$550 million financing facility. GRES has progressed the design, procurement and initial site works under an early works agreement to ensure timely delivery of the Paste Plant.

Commenting on the EPC award, Liontown Managing Director and CEO, Tony Ottaviano, said: “We are pleased to award the contract for the design and construction of the Paste Plant which will support and further de-risk the planned underground production rates at Kathleen Valley. GRES has designed and constructed multiple paste plant facilities throughout Western Australia and the GRES team has mobilised and commenced initial works at Kathleen Valley.”

PYBAR well underway with underground development contract at Savage River

Mine shafts and equipment, Mineral project development, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining techniques, Steel and iron ore

Late last year, following a competitive tendering process, PYBAR was awarded an underground development mining contract at the Savage River Mine in Tasmania. Under the contract, PYBAR will provide services, labour and equipment for continued development of an underground exploration decline and lateral development roadways at the Savage River Mine, with over 2 km of development planned.

The existing mine is predominantly an open cut operation which has been producing high grade pelletised iron ore for over 50 years, and the contract works will allow ongoing exploration and studies to support a potential to transition to an underground block cave mine.

PYBAR says its skilled crews, comprising 42 people and fleet of specialised underground mining equipment, including a Sandvik DD421 jumbo, Cat R2900G loader, Cat AD60 truck, Jacon Maxijet shotcreter and Elphinstone WR820 agi, were mobilised to site ready for project kick off early in the new year.

It adds: “The team, led by Project Manager, Andrew Callan, has hit the ground running, already achieving pleasing development progress sitting above the contract target after the first month of development. Our work at the Savage River Mine will further expand PYBAR’s presence in Tasmania, with our teams already providing supply, delivery and application of fibrecrete and cement fill services at the nearby MMG Rosebery Mine.”

“We are excited by the opportunity to work with Grange Resources and to build upon our presence in the Tasmanian resources sector,” said James Glover, PYBAR’s CEO. “It’s particularly exciting to be involved at an early stage in the development of this potential new underground mine.”

The current phase of works at Savage River is expected to take 10 months to complete and PYBAR will play a key role in taking the mine to the next stage of operation.

Boliden inks deal to reopen Tara in major boost for Irish mining

Base metals, Mine shafts and equipment, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining project news, Mining services

On May 3, Boliden announced that an agreement had been reached between worker’s unions and local management which enables the process of reopening Ireland’s largest mining operation – the Tara zinc mine near Navan – ‘on a more financially sustainable basis.’ In July 2023, the Tara mine was put in care and maintenance due to a combination of factors, including negative zinc price development, overall cost level and operational challenges. An agreement between worker’s unions and local management, to significantly improve ways of work and productivity, has now been secured.

Tara in Ireland is Europe’s largest zinc mine and also one of the largest in a global comparison. Since mining began in 1977, more than 85 Mt of ore have been extracted. Boliden acquired the mine in 2004.

The agreement includes among other things an optimised mining plan which reduces transportation distances and maximises metal output, starting with an annual production rate of 1.8 Mt, coupled with an organisational redesign, a reduction in employees and improved ways of working. Altogether, the normal cash cost of the Tara mine is expected to be reduced to approximately 100 US$1/lb zinc, compared to US$1.37/lb zinc for the first half year of 2023. The reduction is attributed to an improved outlook on the price of energy as well as lower benchmark treatment charges (TC) coupled with improved productivity levels.

As a result, one-off restructuring costs of approximately EUR -30 million will negatively affect the second quarter 2024, which together with previously announced costs for care and maintenance of EUR -13 million per quarter gives a total negative effect on operating profit for the quarter to EUR -43 million. The restructuring costs are associated with the reduction in headcount to around 400 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, compared to over 600 employees before the care and maintenance period, as well as significant organisational changes and changes in the ways of working. Employees will commence their return to work on a phased basis during the third quarter 2024 with an onboarding and retraining program.

Ramp-up of production will start during the fourth quarter 2024, and full production is expected from January 2025. Operating profit during the second half of 2024 is estimated to be about EUR -25 million per quarter, compared to EUR -13 million per quarter during the care and maintenance period. In connection to the decision to reopen the Tara mine, exploration activities towards the Tara Deep deposit will be reinitiated during the second half of 2024.

Nokia and Alcon selected by Sigma Lithium to deploy private wireless network in Brazil

Communications in mining, Energy minerals, High tech minerals, IoT, Mining services, Sustainable mining

Nokia says it has been chosen by Sigma Lithium, a leading global lithium producer, to deploy the first private LTE wireless campus network in the Americas that supports the mining of lithium – a metal critical to the production of batteries that power electric vehicles. Nokia will work with partner Alcon to roll out the private wireless network at the Grota do Cirilo mining operation in Brazil, which will support 200 Sigma employees and add multiple innovative mining applications that boost productivity and operational efficiency.

As the world converts to more energy-efficient vehicles to combat climate change, demand for lithium is skyrocketing. Exploration globally is expected to increase more than 10 times by 2035. Already a leader in advanced sustainable mining practices, Sigma produced record amounts of Triple Zero Green Lithium at its Brazil plant in 2023 and its Quintuple Zero Green Lithium was recognized at COP28 as the most sustainable lithium in the world.

With the addition of a Nokia private LTE network based on Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (Nokia DAC), the company is ratcheting up its goal to produce next-generation EV batteries in a carbon neutral, socially and environmentally sustainable manner – deploying robust dedicated bandwidth and throughput across its sites. Connecting workers with certified ruggedised devices, industrial edge computing and a catalogue of ecosystem-neutral applications contribute to the creation of a safer working environment and enhance productivity and operational efficiency with crucial mining apps such as dispatch, push-to-talk and push-to-video, and smart badge systems.

Marcelo Marinho, Chief Operating Officer at Sigma Lithium, said: “At Sigma, we are dedicated to powering the next generation of EVs in the most sustainable manner. We are very excited to work with Nokia and Alcon to enhance worker safety and efficiency while continuing to expand our exploration of a metal critical to the world’s energy transition.”

Victorio Accon, Commercial Manager at Alcon, said: “We are very pleased to partner with Nokia on this exciting project to bring mission-critical networking to Sigma Lithium. Our expertise in deploying these vital solutions in challenging environments will ensure an optimized roll-out for Sigma Lithium.”

David de Lancelloti, Vice President Enterprise Campus Edge Business at Nokia, said: “This exciting collaboration with Alcon will bring robust connectivity to world-class lithium mining leader Sigma Lithium and accelerate digitalisation. Dedicated, mission-critical connectivity connecting industrial devices and applications is at the heart of revolutionising the way the mining sector operates – keeping employees safe and enabling high-performance operations that deliver results.”

Normet, SmartDrive and the path to electrification

Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mine shafts and equipment, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Sustainable mining

Five years is a long time in mining technology circles: a point Normet is reinforcing with the rapid rise of its SmartDrive® battery-electric utility equipment platform. SmartDrive is a modular battery-electric vehicle (BEV) architecture designed to optimise energy consumption and performance. It includes the latest Li-ion battery technology with a fast-charging capability. High-torque electric motors supply instant torque and efficient operation without any local emissions, while the fully reversible 4WD ensures safe and sure movement in difficult underground conditions.

Normet’s Samu Kukkonen, Technology Director (left) and Mark Ryan, VP Vice President Equipment Offering and New Technology (right)

Built-in energy recuperation technology maximises the storing of regenerative braking energy during downhill driving and deacceleration. This is aided by efficient hydraulic dual-circuit oil immersed brakes that supply additional braking power when needed.  Normet SmartDrive equipment’s batteries can be charged at any time from typical underground AC-sockets. For demanding operations, optional fast chargers can charge batteries quickly during operation or a break. Normet equipment is fully compatible with the universal CCS fast charging standard.

The range of SmartDrive machines today includes BEV Spraymec concrete sprayers, Utilift scissor lifts, Charmec multipurpose chargers, Utimec concrete transmixer, personnel and material carriers, and Multimec multifunctional carrier. These machines have had success worldwide and in a number of cases have been the first BEVs to deploy at major mines such as at Oyu Tolgoi, Sindesar Khurd and Efemçukuru.

In Australia, Normet has been operating in and supporting the Australian market for many years, with offices and workshops throughout the country. Notable SmartDrive successes include Australia’s first battery-powered vehicle for underground explosive charging – a Charmec, that arrived at OZ Minerals’ Carrapateena in 2020 for work with Enaex Australia; then a trial with contract miner Barminco at IGO’s Nova operation in 2021; and a third Charmec trial with contract miner Byrnecut at Gold Fields’ Invincible operation in 2021/2022. To date, Normet has delivered 16 SmartDrive machines to Australia with more on the way.

We spoke with Normet’s Samu Kukkonen, Technology Director and Mark Ryan, VP Vice President Equipment Offering and New Technology, to find out more ahead of their speaker appearances at The Electric Mine 2024, in Perth, Western Australia, taking place at the Crown Perth Complex, on May 21-23! Normet is a Platinum Sponsor of the event with an exhibitor booth presence, plus its Spraymec MF 050 VC SD battery-electric concrete sprayer will be there as part of the Outdoor Equipment Showcase.

Q How would you say the market’s reception to electrifying their underground operations has changed since you launched the SmartDrive platform at the Bauma exhibition in 2019?

MR: Since the launch, we have delivered over 60 units globally. Over these years and tens of thousands of operating hours, the technology has proven its benefits, durability and safety in underground operations. The key benefits include improvement in air quality, decreased noise and almost zero heat, as well as significantly decreased operational costs compared to their diesel equivalent. Even if the reception has been generally positive, understandably many customers are still cautious. We are here to help them to take the first step in the path of electrification: we help with the identification and mitigation of risks, with process planning, infrastructure planning if it is required, with commissioning and training, and whatever the customers need help with. In addition, our equipment is not that energy-intensive, meaning that to try out the technology, the customers might not need to invest in or build any additional infrastructure.

Q You appear to have made inroads across many major mining jurisdictions with SmartDrive vehicles; what would you say has proven decisive in convincing these owners and contractors to use your battery-electric equipment?

MR: We have been in the underground mining business for over half a century, so dealing with the global jurisdictions and legislations, and intensive collaboration with local authorities has been everyday business. So, continuing this with SmartDrive was nothing new to us. By combining our decades long underground mining process experience with world-leading BEV technology and experts, we were able to create a global product offering.

Q Considering this battery-electric success with SmartDrive, why did you feel the need to introduce ElectroDynamic® powertrain architecture to your offering in 2023? Was the launch of this hybrid power offering representative of the various maturity levels present in the market when it comes to electrifying mining operations?

SK: Since the launch of the SmartDrive, we had become adept in electric vehicle technologies. We then realised that this expertise we had, can be utilised to augment, if you will, conventional diesel powered machinery as well. We also knew that this ‘hybridisation’ has to have enough benefits for the mining industry to be interested in it. We came up with a concept where, by replacing the conventional mechanical driveline with a fully electric one and powering it with a diesel engine generator, we could almost double the payload capacity of our biggest agitators while keeping the machine height the same or actually decreasing it slightly. It fits the same tunnel size and has nearly double the productivity. There is a huge value in that. Also, the solution greatly reduces the amount of CO2 emitted or fuel consumed per cubic metre of concrete transported. So, it helps our customers to reach sustainability targets as well. The ElectroDynamic® makes sense from many different perspectives. We believe there is room in the industry for such a high performing product in parallel to SmartDrive. All of these solutions help the industry to reduce CO2 output.

Normet’s ElectroDynamic® architecture combines the best features of its battery-electric Normet SmartDrive® platform and state-of-the-art low-emission engine technology

Q Is this dynamic also one of the reasons why Normet is hosting a panel session at The Electric Mine 2024 titled, ‘Tackling the carbon reduction challenge one step at a time?’

MR: Yes. We feel like the mining industry is still in the beginning of its electrification journey, so we want to do our part in this, by helping our customers to tackle their challenges and build up the confidence for this technology by sharing our experiences and learnings with the industry.

Q Samu, your presentation is looking at the electrification of manipulators and tools in underground mining. What stage is this at within Normet’s offering?

SK: With SD technology validated, we are broadening our focus to electrifying tools and manipulators. We can achieve gains in safety and/or productivity while reducing energy consumption and CO2 output. In our presentation, we will discuss about our latest achievement in this area, the Charmec Revo, a remote explosives charger with a fully electric, servo robotic manipulator. Another example we’ll present is an electric hammer, a collaborative effort between us and Finnish technology company Lekatech. So, these are the first steps in our tools electrification roadmap.

Q Normet has had significant success with the SmartDrive platform in Australia. What do you put this success down to?

MR: The answer is simple: our customers in Australia are committed and motivated to continuous improvement and early adaptation of the technologies to increase the safety and well-being of their personnel. In addition, our experienced Australian organisation is extremely committed to these things as well.

Q In addition to what you have already discussed, what can attendees of The Electric Mine 2024 look forward to hearing about?

MR: Based on our experience, The Electric Mine is a great opportunity for the industry experts to gather together to share their experiences and best practices to learn from each other, and we want to do our part in this as well. We want to share our learnings on these 60+ units we have in the field, as well as our latest innovations in electrification.

Normet is a Platinum Sponsor of The Electric Mine 2024, with the company having a major indoor display in the exhibition hall, as well as being part of the Outdoor Equipment Showcase – where it will be showcasing a Spraymec MF 050 VC SD – a battery-electric concrete sprayer designed for mining. There is still time to register – head to www.theelectricmine.com

VoltVision acquires four new contracts with top tier miners in Africa

Environmental, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mineral processing, Mining consumables, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Mining software, Power supply for mines, Precious metals, Sustainable mining

VoltVision, the high voltage (HV) electrical data analytics business, reports that it is continuing to expand across the African and Middle Eastern mining sectors. Following successful trials, it has acquired four new contracts with top-tier miners Barrick Gold, Centamin, Resolute Mining and Allied Gold.

It states: “The ongoing success of these partnerships proves VoltVision’s capabilities in the digitisation of complex high and medium voltage power grids. It also demonstrates its success in helping mining companies to improve operational efficiencies and, in doing so, accelerating the decarbonisation of the industry.”

Barrick’s Lumwana Mine in Zambia has partnered with VoltVision to gain a deeper understanding of its power performance, both at site and group level. VoltVision’s solutions have enabled the Lumwana operations team to monitor the electrical performance of the processing plant. This will improve efficiencies and help manage the relationship with the grid supplier through ongoing monitoring and billing verification. The customised reporting feature will also streamline the reporting process for the site management team.

At Centamin’s Sukari Mine in Egypt, VoltVision will digitise three critical areas of the mine complex including the underground operations, the process plant and all power generation units – encompassing a recently installed 36 MW solar park and 50 MW of heavy-fuel operated power generators. VoltVision’s pioneering solutions will enable Sukari to better operate its Power Management System, maximise solar PV usage, and advance to automated real-time energy reporting.

Resolute Mining has partnered with VoltVision to gain better visibility into Syama’s medium voltage (MV) power network. VoltVision has retrofitted its solutions across Syama’s entire MV power network enabling the site management team to monitor diesel generation, power usage and power quality. VoltVision has streamlined the reporting process, guaranteeing accuracy and availability by using our customised reporting feature. This automatically populates all power reports needed across the site and at ExCo.

At Allied Gold’s site, VoltVision has implemented a comprehensive monitoring solution, providing site-wide power digitisation. This has given the ExCo team unprecedented access to power usage and quality data across the entire processing plant, allowing them to identify areas for improved efficiency. VoltVision has also built a centralised multi-asset monitoring tool for the site management team.

“We are thrilled to be working with Centamin, Resolute Mining, Allied Gold and Barrick’s Lumwana complex in their respective efforts to improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs and address climate change. VoltVision is proud to be supporting an increasing number of leading miners in Africa and the Middle East on their journey to becoming more responsible users of power, tackling energy wastage and addressing carbon intensity. Our solutions are installed without the need for operational shutdowns and at a fraction of the price of alternatives. The power efficiencies and cost savings recorded by our customers in just a few months is a testament to the effectiveness of power transparency that a digital analytics solution can offer,” says Manoli Yannaghas, Co-Founder and Managing Director of VoltVision.

FLSmidth builds solid skills base in South Africa for both local & global succession

Careers in mining, Comminution of minerals, Equipment maintenance, Mineral processing, Mining consumables, Mining maintenance, Mining people, Mining services

To support its full flowsheet technology capabilities, FLSmidth says it is continuously developing vital skills at its well-resourced Training Academy at the company’s Chloorkop Service Centre in Gauteng.  According to the FLSmidth Training Academy Head Steve Parkinson, the training underpins the ground-up succession strategy of ensuring long term competence within the business – with the depth to embrace evolving technologies that continuously improve its offerings.

“Our considerable investment in skills development nurtures local talent to provide us with a strong pipeline of relevant and quality expertise,” says Parkinson. “This knowledge base is shared within FLSmidth not only across the continent but globally. At the same time, we invariably train more people than we can absorb, so we provide a rich resource of trained individuals for other players in the local mining and engineering sectors – including our customers and competitors.”

Through a rigorous selection process countrywide that targets unemployed youth under 26 years old, 10 apprentices are enrolled every year at the academy. They spend three years in formalised training towards their qualification and future role as an artisan. FLSmidth employs as many as it can accommodate within its resource planning and budgeting; the company also goes the extra mile in trying to find placements for the others, either among its customers or the broader industry.

“In this way, we develop our own specialised in-house expertise while creating a skills pipeline that supports the local economy and builds a stronger base for the manufacturing, mining and other sectors,” he explains. “This is part of our commitment to the growth of mining and industry in Africa.”

Such training is only possible because of FLSmidth’s depth of skill already at work in its advanced Chloorkop Service Centre on the same site. Here, the company conducts turnkey refurbishment and repair services, supported by infrastructure that includes a large fabrication shop, an assessment and assembly area, and a heavy machining section with both conventional and CNC equipment.

“The rules of supervising and mentoring apprenticeships require that there is at least one artisan for every three apprentices,” explains Parkinson. “We therefore leverage our existing skills base to nurture the artisans of tomorrow – ensuring that each apprentice is closely supervised and well managed to enhance the practical learning process.”

FLSmidth also hosts a two-year Engineering Graduate Internship programme, where it develops graduates in disciplines such as mechanical, chemical and metallurgical engineering. Each intern is supervised by an FLSmidth engineer working in the relevant field.

A further training programme being offered is a unique learnership that FLSmidth conducts in collaboration with the German Chamber of Commerce. The Commercial Apprenticeship Training scheme (CATS) involves a two-year learning programme, earning the successful participant an Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) qualification at Level 5 in South Africa, as well as a German qualification – the Diploma in Industrial Management Assistant.

An information technology (IT) learnership is also offered for 20 local people with disabilities; with its focus on computer-based system development skills, the field is less inhibiting for people with disabilities, he points out. This initiative aligns well with the company’s social responsibility strategy and its sustainability goals.

“The track record of the Training Academy in South Africa has been so successful that we now have valuable experience to share with FLSmidth operations globally,” he says. “Colleagues abroad are able to draw on our model to achieve similar results in their regions. A number of our trainees have, in fact, already been placed in operations abroad, proving the world class quality of our outputs.”

Within the FLSmidth Service Centre itself, the quality of the learners from the Training Academy is already well proven. For example, the current foreman of the machining shop was an apprentice in this facility just 14 years ago. There have also been general workers admitted to the apprenticeship programme, qualifying successfully to become qualified machine operators.

The Training Centre also provides staff and customers with product training, says Parkinson. This generally covers three levels: the first level is general knowledge about products, the second level is basic operations and preventative maintenance, and the third level focuses on specialised maintenance.