All posts by Paul Moore

Worley awarded construction contract for BHP’s Jansen Potash Mine Stage 1

Industrial minerals, Mineral commodities, Mineral processing, Mining services

Worley has been awarded the construction contract for BHP’s Jansen Potash Mine Stage 1 project in Saskatchewan, Canada. At full capacity the Jansen project is set to be one of the world’s largest potash mines. And is anticipated to help address the global growing demands for potash over the next decade.

The ore produced from the project is expected to start operations in late 2026, with a production capacity of 4.35 million tons of potash annually. Worley’s scope for Stage 1 of the Jansen project involves the fabrication, modularisation and field construction programs of the underground mine, potash processing facility, storage facility and continuous automated rail loading system. This includes 486 pre-assembled units ranging from pipe rack modules, process modules, and stair towers.

This will be the first modular building approach for a potash mill building, with the final pre-assembled unit to be completed by December 2024. The field scope will begin in April 2024 and be completed in September 2025. Worley will also be responsible for the concrete, structural steel, piping, equipment installation, electrical and instrumentation work, and commissioning of the dry mill and screening areas.

As part of the project, it has also established a partnership with the George Gordan First Nations. “This will provide socio-economic benefits to the George Gordon First Nations, including promoting Indigenous cultural awareness within the community. We’ll also provide training and mentoring to George Gordon First Nations through direct hire opportunities and affiliated company opportunities to participate in various scopes of work.”

The project has also been set up with a focus on sustainability and will operate with lower greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater consumption per ton of product compared with other potash mines in the region.

“Fertilisers play a critical role in ensuring global food security, as their absence would impede billions of individuals from accessing vital nourishment,” says Martin Clutterbuck, VP of Worley Canada Construction. “We’re pleased to be able to support BHP to deliver this project using our local construction capabilities, while meeting their social value and sustainability goals.”

First time for the MK-A20 underground mining truck in Türkiye

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mine shafts and equipment, Mining equipment, Mining services

Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis A.Ş., the Turkish representative of GHH, the German manufacturer of machines for mining and tunnelling, will be exhibiting the GHH MK-A20 dump truck for the first time in Türkiye at the Maden Türkiye 2024 trade fair from May 2-5 in Tüyap. Komatsu will also be represented on the stand at A-105A.

Compact, powerful and extremely robust, the GHH MK-A20 is an articulated dump truck for underground mining, which was developed with a high power-to-weight ratio for cost-optimised use in hard rock. With a length of 9,417 mm, a width of 2,200 mm and a height of 2,555 mm fully loaded, the dumper can also cope in narrow underground mines. In addition to the standard tipping volume of 10 cubic metres, tipping volumes of between 6 and 12.5 cubic metres are also available. With an empty weight of 19 t and a load capacity of 20 t, a total loaded weight of 39 tonnes is achieved.

The MK-A20 is equipped with a Cummins QSB6.7 engine with a power rating of 209 kW at 2,300 rpm. The drive train is completed by a powershift transmission with 4 forward and 4 reverse gears. With its smart system design, the manufacturer aims to achieve the lowest possible operating costs. Therefore, only tried-and-tested technologies have been utilised to ensure trouble-free operation. The ROPS/FOPS-certified cab offers excellent visibility in both directions of travel. It is also ergonomically designed and offers a high level of safety for its driver.

Marubeni has been GHH’s sales and service partner in Türkiye as of 2024. GHH has made a name for itself with the manufacture of LHDs and dumper trucks specially designed for underground mining. Its machines offer advantages in soft and hard rock mining thanks to their robustness, cost efficiency, ease of maintenance and driver ergonomics. Marubeni from its side adds real value for customers with its experienced sales and service teams at locations across the country.

Türkiye, besides its geopolitical importance, is already a major player in the global raw materials market. It has numerous mineral resources, including copper and iron ore, coal and chrome, as well as the world’s largest boron deposits. The fact that GHH will soon be part of the Komatsu Group is a further advantage for customers in Türkiye and beyond.

Kal Tire and Pitcrew AI forge new worldwide strategic alliance

Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software

Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group, a leader in mining tyre management service and supply, and Pitcrew AI, a pioneer in autonomous vehicle inspection systems, have announced a global mining partnership. The signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) solidifies the existing collaboration between the two organisations and designates Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group as Pitcrew AI’s preferred global partner.

The agreement capitalises on Kal Tire’s extensive customer network and will leverage its established presence in key mining regions to ensure widespread accessibility to Pitcrew AI’s leading technology. Dan Allan, Senior Vice President of Kal Tire’s Mining Group said the team is excited about the future of the partnership. “We have already forged a strong relationship with Pitcrew AI and this new partnership supports our unwavering commitment to innovation that delivers value to our customers worldwide and continues to enhance mining tyre management. We are thrilled to lock in our partnership and embark on the next phase of our journey with Pitcrew AI.”

Tim Snell, CEO, Pitcrew AI, is enthusiastic about the collaboration and believes the partnership is poised to redefine industry processes and fast-track the journey to a more sustainable future in heavy vehicle tire management. “Our collaboration has already had a significant impact of mine sites across many countries, particularly in the sustainability space. As part of our commitment to customers and mining operation optimization, we are both committed to delivering strong customer value in a way that promotes sustainability and drives positive change. This is a really exciting prospect and something we are proud to be a part of.”

With multiple systems deployed across Australia, Canada, Brazil, Chile and Colombia, the Kal Tire and Pitcrew teams are firmly embedded within the global mining industry and seek to build upon current integrations. “At a time when fleet planning teams need to make confident productivity and safety decisions quickly, this technology brings critical value – and we’re excited about what this milestone will mean for both Kal Tire and Pitcrew AI,” says Allan.

Liontown achieves first ore through crushing circuit at Kathleen Valley

Bulk handling, High tech minerals, Mine operation news, Mine shafts and equipment, Mineral project development, Mining equipment

In a huge milestone for a world-class hard rock lithium project, Liontown Resources has achieved first ore through the crushing circuit at Kathleen Valley in Western Australia. Commissioning of the dry plant commenced in late March with the team energising equipment and conducting thorough checks of the systems to ensure everything works in accordance with the design.

The team will now gradually ramp up the volume of ore through the crusher to build a stockpile of crushed ore. By starting the commissioning process with the crusher, Liontown says it is not only testing the equipment but will have clean ore ready for feeding into the wet plant. It is getting closer to first production, on schedule for mid-2024.

Liontown also recently shared a detailed Q1 2024 activities report from the mine on April 29. The Kathleen Valley Lithium Project is now over 85% complete, with commissioning of the dry plant underway. Mining activities progressed to plan with underground development reaching ~1,900 m as the stockpile of ore from the open pit continued to grow.

Total material movement (TMM) for the quarter was 1.1 Mbcm, supporting ore stockpile build ahead of production and providing waste material for the Run of Mine (ROM) pad and Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) construction. TMM of 6.4 Mbcm has been achieved cumulatively since the commencement of open pit mining in January 2023. Ore hygiene remains a clear and important focus for mine operations with high quality, low impurity ore for milling continuing to be stockpiled on the ROM pad. In addition, material identified for ore sorting product (OSP) is also being stockpiled to supplement ROM material for commissioning and plant ramp-up activities

The ore sorters arrived on site and construction of the OSP pad commenced adjacent to the ROM pad. Ore sorting is planned to commence in the June 2024 quarter. Clearing of the OSP pad was completed and the construction of the ore sorting plant progressed in the March quarter. Axis Crushing Services commenced crushing and screening of the OSP material to feed the sorting circuit, with commissioning to begin imminently. This crushed, screened and sorted material will in turn provide supplementary mill-feed to the process plant.

Underground, a total of 1,535 development metres was achieved during the quarter by contractor Byrnecut, which is carrying out both the development and mining works, continuing the strong trajectory of progress since the commencement of underground mining in the prior quarter. Equipment and personnel mobilised to site as planned for this phase of development. Metres advanced and ground conditions experienced continue to be in line with the mine plan and expectations. Byrnecut has deployed Sandvik 21 t-payload Toro™ LH621i loaders equipped with AutoMine® technology, three Sandvik DD422i development drills with Dual Controls and a Sandvik DS422i cable bolter. Epiroc has supplied a fleet of Epiroc Minetruck MT65 S mining trucks.

Pastefill plant design progressed in accordance with schedule and is now 24% complete. Structural design was prioritised during the period. Progress continued on all concrete works on site, and tank builds commenced. The focus throughout the quarter was on concrete, with 1,030 m3 poured bringing the total to 1,575 m3. Tank welding and installation has begun with first steel erection occurring post quarter end. The Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) cell 1 continues to be filled with raw water from onsite bores and seasonal rainfall, with the water to be used to support start-up processing operations. The majority of tailings discharge header and dropper pipework has also now been installed.

Strong progress was achieved at the process plant throughout the quarter with installation of structural steel and platework work largely complete. Piping and electrical works have become the principal focus and will remain so through to completion. Overall, design, procurement and construction of the process plant was 90% complete at quarter end. Multiple pieces of equipment, including the crusher, have been run.

Progress on remaining key work fronts during the quarter in the wet plant included flotation and magnetic separation building steelwork, piping and electrical installation; belt filtration piping installation and facility roof lifted into place; progressing flotation, magnetic separation, pipe-racks, infill piping, and bolted tank installation works, all of which are on track to enable commissioning in-line with first production target. Concurrent wet plant commissioning, starting with the SAG mill, is on track to commence from the next quarter.

Construction of the 95 MW Hybrid Power Plant progressed well throughout the March quarter, with the solar farm and thermal power station both nearing completion. Commissioning and electrical completion of the 30,780 solar panels commenced, with energisation commencing in April. Erection of the third wind turbine also neared completion by quarter end, with the remaining two turbines planned to commence in the June quarter.

Diesel sets are online, first delivery of liquified natural gas (LNG) was received and supported live testing of Jenbacher LNG gensets. These energy sources will progressively be brought online from next quarter, in-line with plant commissioning requirements. From next quarter, renewables are expected to be supplying part of the power for construction and commissioning activities, as well as feeding the camp and underground mining infrastructure.

AngloGold Ashanti charting a pathway to net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions

Environmental, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Power supply for mines, Precious metals

AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) recently released its 2023 Sustainability Report, which includes a discussion of its pathway to net zero Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions. The gold miner has a stated objective of reducing Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline as a medium term target enroute to net zero Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2050.

The company states: “As we continue our journey towards reducing carbon emissions and building a greener planet, we are leveraging global collaboration to create a sustainable and resilient world for generations to come. We are therefore committed to work with our sites to target areas of potential reduction to achieve our maximum potential.”

Starting with Australia, at Tropicana, AGA signed an agreement with Pacific Energy to construct a renewable wind and solar project, while continuing to operate the combined renewables-gas power station under a 10-year build-own-operate contract. The renewables integration is expected to almost eliminate Tropicana’s diesel consumption for power generation and reduce gas consumption for power generation by approximately 50%, cutting carbon emissions by more than 65,000 t/y on average over the life of this agreement. At Sunrise Dam, a three-party agreement between AngloGold Ashanti, Barminco and Sandvik was reached to trial the world’s largest battery-electric underground mining truck – the TH665B – at Sunrise Dam. This technology will produce zero emissions and generate 80% less heat.

In Tanzania, work at Geita to switch over to the national utility is progressing toward completion in 2024. AGA says the project team is working closely with the national utility to ensure alignment of work streams ahead of the switch over. The Statcom containers, transformers and heat exchangers were installed on site, a key milestone for 2023. To increase the stability of the national grid (largely hydro and natural gas powered) during the dry season, AGA has factored in the need to supplement grid electricity and has made provision for additional diesel to power its gensets in 2024.

In Ghana AGA is currently advancing a 100 MW solar plant in conjunction with the Volta River Authority, our current service provider. Key priorities include agreeing power tariffs that will be incorporated into a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement and definition of the methodologies to be used in Carbon Credit Certificates.

In Guinea in 2023 AGA identified a preferred 150 ha location for a planned 40 MW solar project. A multi-disciplinary team is currently identifying the most suitable candidate to build, own and operate the project. In 2024, it will start environmental studies and applications for the required government permits.

In Brazil, by replacing existing diesel power LHDs and light vehicles with battery electric equivalents (BEVs) at the Cuiaba mine, AGA will reduce heat load and diesel particulate matter. BEVs also serve to reduce ventilation required to cool the underground mine. A trial to test the viability of an electric loader – an Epiroc Scooptram ST14 SG – began in December and is set to last 18 months. The results of this trial will be shared across the group to build a solid knowledge base for the further roll out of BEVs.

In Argentina, AGS is in the process of completing a strategic asset review to maximise the long-term value of CVSA. This analysis will consider the additional resources and potential for regional exploration opportunities to increase the life of mine at CVSA. The outcome of this study will inform the viability of installing wind turbines at the site.

In the US in 2024 AGA will expand the scope of the Expanded Silicon project pre-feasibility study to include trade-off studies to consider various clean energy solutions, including trolley assist versus normal haulage, solar power versus grid to generate power as well as Railveyor options.

Finally, in Colombia, it says the Quebradona project presents a unique opportunity to source 100% renewable electricity from the national grid and use it to electrify both the underground mining activities and TSF transport. The Colombia project team has recently completed a small-scale test to prove the viability and benefits of green hydrogen. If successful, this could be leveraged to provide power to much larger trucks for the site’s logistics needs.

Metso launches modular FIT and Foresight conveyors for fast set-up and increased productivity

Automation, Bulk handling, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Mining software, Mining techniques, Sustainable mining

Metso is launching productised FIT™ in-plant and Foresight™ overland conveyors for reliable material transportation in the mining industry. The standardised conveyor modules and premium components offer high capacity and layout flexibility as well as substantial savings in time and resources, from feasibility and design to implementation, thereby enabling higher lifetime productivity.

The high-capacity Metso Foresight™ overland conveyors are fixed or relocatable and connect the primary crushing station with the coarse ore stockpile. The Metso FIT™ in-plant conveyors are compatible with Metso FIT™ crushing plants that are designed for the most demanding mining applications.

“The modular FIT™ and Foresight™ conveyors take project ease, speed and productivity to the next level. We have designed these conveyors for easier planning, configuration, installation and maintenance with a wide range of modules and components. This enables our mining customers to get their in-plant and overland conveying systems up and running faster and brings a quicker return on investment,” says Guillaume Lambert, SVP, Crushing at Metso.

“Thanks to the standardised modular design of the conveyors, we have been able to shorten delivery time by up to 25% and set-up time by up to 15%. Metso premium components are used in the conveyors, and the use of ConveyInsights™ predictive maintenance and flow control technology can help our customers achieve their productivity targets. To improve the feasibility study process on Foresight™ overland conveyors, we developed the William Conveyor Explorer, an application software that is connected to our conveyor module range. It can be found in the new Metso Crush and Convey Resource Center. Our mining and EPC/M customers can enter their process and route data and then instantly assess multiple options and download the modules they need for efficient planning in their software environment. This development also supports mine electrification programs to reach fast decarbonisation plans and targets,” notes Lambert.

To ensure continuous conveyor performance, Metso can provide a wide scope of services ranging from optimisation and life-cycle services to premium wear and spare parts. Metso has installed over 1,000km of conveyors globally.

The launch was the subject of an in-depth interview with Leif Berndt, Metso Director IPCC, which will feature in the in-pit crushing and conveying article in the shortly to come out May edition of IM. Berndt says Metso set out to answer the question, how do we make IPCC easier, less complex and mysterious and easier to engage with? “We thought can we not break it down into something simpler and more useful with a much lower threshold of engagement. Plus, to make study analysis much faster and more streamlined. It is also the case that there has to be a new ‘meeting point’ between mobile fleet and IPCC. Where this will be figured out in the next three to five years when we know more about the battery or hybrid trucks and what they really need to be productive in terms of charging whether fixed or dynamic.”

Berndt adds: “Mining companies today want fast, available and affordable decarbonisation. For IPCC, we think we are able to do this by avoiding very detailed studies & ETO manufacturing and instead using modularised already available products instead of tailor-made systems including a pre-ordained, productised set of conveyor solutions. So we are launching the Foresight ™ overland conveyor which follows on from the Foresight ™ crushing station, for example the SMPG and apron feeder. Then within the overland conveyor solution we have ready to go modules for the tail station, main conveyor module, head station and coarse ore stacker. They cover a range from 1,400 to 2,400 mm width. We connect these modules as we go and have immediate impact in terms of pricing and OPEX that can quickly be fed into client study planning. We think this modular approach allows for 70% plus faster feasibility.”

Vale & Caterpillar sign deal to test battery trucks & conduct ethanol studies

Bulk handling, Environmental, Equipment maintenance

Vale and Caterpillar have signed an agreement to test battery electric large trucks and energy transfer systems, as well as conduct studies on ethanol-powered trucks. The aim is to support Vale in achieving its goals of reducing scope 1 and 2 (direct and indirect) carbon emissions by 33% by 2030 and zeroing its net emissions by 2050.

Haul trucks powered by batteries are being developed by Caterpillar. A battery powered truck with capacity of 240 tons will be tested by Vale at its operations in Minas Gerais. Caterpillar is also developing energy transfer solutions for trucks, which will be tested at the mining company’s operations in Pará over the next few years.

The two companies will also begin a joint study on a dual fuel solution for haul trucks operating on ethanol and diesel fuel.

Diesel emissions from mine operations account for 15% of Vale’s direct CO2eq emissions. Among mine equipment, the haul truck is the biggest consumer of diesel and therefore the biggest contributor to emissions. For this reason, investing in initiatives to decarbonise mines and establishing strategic collaborations are fundamental to Vale’s goals.

“We are developing a portfolio of options to decarbonise Vale’s operations, including electrification and the use of alternative fuels in the mines. The most viable solutions will be adopted,” says Ludmila Nascimento, Vale’s Energy and Decarbonization Director. “We believe that ethanol has great potential to contribute to the 2030 target because it is a fuel that has already been adopted on a large scale in Brazil, with an established supply network, and which requires an active partnership with manufacturers. We stand together to support them in this goal.

“There have been significant advances in the development of electric truck technology in recent years and these innovations will play an important role in bringing our net emissions to zero by 2050,” explains José Baltazar, Vale’s director of Engineering for Mine and Plant Operations. “We are offering our mines in Brazil as a testing ground, with their very specific characteristics, in order to contribute to achieving our goals and building a cleaner mining industry.”

Denise Johnson, Caterpillar’s Resource Industries group president, adds: “Voice of customer is a critical element of Caterpillar’s product development process, and Vale has been a key voice throughout our long history of collaborating on technology and product deployments. We look forward to continuing that collaboration as we launch the next generation of our iconic mining solutions to support our customers’ operational and environmental objectives.”

BHP Spence in Chile celebrates fleet going all autonomous

Automation, Base metals, Bulk handling, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Sustainable mining

Teamwork, greater competitiveness, safety and sustainability of the mine operation are among important benefits that BHP Spence in Chile recently celebrated after achieving full autonomy of the copper mining operations, having converted its fleet of 33 mining trucks and five blasthole drilling rigs, with zero incidents and managing to reduce exposure to safety risks by up to 90%.

Spence celebrated this milestone together with national and local authorities, who were able to learn on the ground how BHP continues to move towards autonomy, which allows for safer, more efficient operations and brings the company closer to the mining of the future.

“This has been a sustainable technological transformation process that today allows our operation to achieve full autonomy, with a fleet of 33 trucks and five drilling rigs, which we managed to implement a month ahead of schedule and with zero incidents. We are talking about an automation process in which people have always been at the centre, with the aim of building a safer, more efficient, diverse and inclusive workplace,” highlighted the President of Pampa Norte, the BHP business unit that includes Spence and Cerro Colorado, Cristian Sandoval.

The converted trucks at Spence are 363 t 980E-5 ultraclass models from Komatsu, with the autonomous haulage system used being Komatsu’s Frontrunner. The drills are Pit Viper 351 models using Epiroc’s autonomous drilling system. Initially the drills and trucks were monitored from a control room about 2 km from the pit but the main focus of the mine monitoring is now the BHP Integrated Operations Center in Santiago.

The Undersecretary of Labor, Giorgio Boccardo, highlighted the learning and training program for the company’s workers, a process that has reached 80% of job retraining and 50% female representation. “One of the elements we were hoping to see is how the reconversion plans were carried out, how the new roles were relocated and trained. In that sense, it seemed like a very good experience.”

“We greatly appreciate that companies want to move forward with the help of new technologies, to generate fewer and fewer risks in the workplace, which is undoubtedly very relevant. Furthermore, it is necessary to highlight that automation does not mean loss of jobs, but rather it is a job reconversion and creation of new roles,” added Camila Cortés, Seremi de Trabajo.

The transition to autonomy at BHP Spence has demonstrated in the field that it is possible to reduce people’s exposure to risks associated with the industry by up to 90%, in addition to contributing to generating greater competitiveness and allowing the company a more efficient use of its resources.

“This type of project has global relevance, given that it uses cutting-edge technologies that ensure operational continuity and, most importantly, the safety of workers, reducing exposure to accidents. Therefore, it is a very important program and not only for Spence, but also for the entire mining sector,” explained the National Deputy Director of the National Geology and Mining Service, Andrés León.

In this regard, the Vice President of Technology at Minerals Americas, Pedro Hidalgo, commented that this is the beginning of a great challenge to make the mine safer and more competitive every day. “Today we have the mission of getting the best out of this technology. We need to go further and analyse the data that automation gives us, how we can work on it and make better decisions that make our operation more efficient. Spence today is a guide, where much of the learning will also be transferred to BHP Escondida to continue working on the future of mining.”

 

Grand opening of Epiroc Regional Electrification Center in Val-d’Or, Quebec

Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mine ventilation, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining

As part of its vision to speed up the shift towards a sustainable mining and construction industry, Epiroc says it has continued to prioritise investing in customer solutions that coincide with the energy transition and their mission to ‘Accelerate the Transformation.’ With Epiroc as a dedicated partner, customers benefit from a passionate team that supports them through their journey of automation, digitalisation, and electrification.

In this pursuit, Meglab Powered by Epiroc is laying the groundwork for customers to make the switch to battery-electric operations by providing both the necessary infrastructure and innovative solutions & services that allow them to transition to zero emission mining seamlessly.

The statement said: “As a technology integrator, Meglab Powered by Epiroc plays a pivotal role in facilitating this transition. Their expertise center provides comprehensive engineering support, adept project management & planning and overall guidance on how to effectively integrate electrification systems in the mine. They are able to bolster productivity on site with energy management solutions that enhance monitoring and predictive forecasting while performing regular electrical audits with PowerScan.”

They also manufacture specialised electrical equipment tailored to the mining environment that enables battery-electric operations, from SubStations and MineStarters to chargers & energy storage systems. Their highly skilled workforce continually enhances their expertise to embrace emerging technologies.

As a longtime mining partner in the region and with increased demand for electrification support, Meglab Powered by Epiroc collaborated with industry partners to open Epiroc’s first Regional Electrification Center to further support this expanding sector. The first of Epiroc’s global Regional Electrification Centers allows Epiroc to be closer to their customers while working with them on solutions to maximise the use of energy in their mines and help them adapt to innovative electrification technology.

“Our team has always taken a regional approach, developing solutions in collaboration with local mines. Today, we are building on this legacy with Epiroc as we’re embracing a proximity and partnership approach that combines global expertise with a local touch,” said Kim Valade, General Manager of Meglab Powered by Epiroc. “The global Regional Electrification Center says it all. We believe the real value of our approach lies in strong local connections and how we make things happen together. As one global team, we’re driven by the passion to make a positive impact where we live and operate.”

“Opening this Epiroc Regional Electrification Center reinforces our goal to be a full solution provider to our customers in electrifying their mining and construction operations across North America. We believe that having a full electrification offering allows us to be better partners with our customers, with the ability to supply the knowledge, support and solutions they require to achieve their productivity and sustainability goals in the future,” said Shawn Samuels, Business Line Manager Epiroc Electrification Solutions Canada.

Antapaccay achieves global first with three autonomous & electric blasthole drill rigs operating

Automation, Base metals, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining people, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software

In its own mine operation’s regular publication Revista Antapaccay, Edition 61, Peruvian copper mining company Minera Antapaccay talks about its impressive autonomous drill program progress. A year ago Minera Antapaccay marked a milestone both for itself and for parent company Glencore when its first autonomous drill rig went operational.

Today, it has four autonomous drilling rigs running (three electric and one diesel), demonstrating it says its commitment to the mining of the future. Antapaccay is using the OEM-agnostic ARDVARC system from FLANDERS.

Interestingly it points out that Minera Antapaccay is one of the first mining companies to implement drilling rig automation successfully on electric-cable powered rigs. It says there are only 9 drilling rigs in the world that are autonomous electric, of which 3 are in Peru at Antapaccay, 3 are in Chile and 3 are in Canada, though these other groups of three are not at single mining operations.

“Antapaccay is the first operation worldwide in achieving 3 autonomous electric drills…they can drill simultaneously in the same project through a standardisation of the drilling process with efficient operational discipline and high standards of security. Furthermore, we are the first operation in Peru to implement autonomy in electric drills,” highlighted Robert Copacondori, Manager of Organisational Transformation.

After its implementation, Antapaccay mine productivity has increased significantly, since the drilling rigs have reached availability figures of 92% and 93%, when manual drills have ranged from 72 to 83%. Victor Cuti, Autonomous Drilling Controller: “All this makes the process more efficient, modern and certain. One of our colleagues is already working with this new technology remotely from a control room equipped with state-of-the-art screens.”

“With automation we have noticed an improvement in drilling times, because the procedure has been modelled better this procedure, and this has improved both the performance and KPIs of the drilling rigs,” said Milton Trujillo, Superintendent of Drilling and Blasting. Furthermore, one of the main advantages is that you can have multiple drills autonomously operating simultaneously. Furthermore, with satellite navigation, you can position exactly where the rig should drill, and the depth of the drilling is calculated automatically.

Senior Operations Manager, Jorge Galarza refers to another advantage of the project in that it will allow Antapaccay to remove operators from more dangerous operational zones. They no longer have to expose themselves to climatic changes or other risks that can occur on a daily basis
in a traditional drilling operation. “From the control room, the work is more comfortable and calm, and we avoid being exposed to vibration and dust,” said Freddy Huamani, Drilling Operator.

Since the project started, there have been no safety incidents, helped by the fact that the drills are equipped with sensors which allow you to detect obstacles, voids and calculate the drilling burden and mesh spacing. This also means better collision avoidance.