All posts by Paul Moore

Epiroc wins largest ever digital solutions order for Codelco El Teniente

Automation, Base metals, Equipment maintenance, Mine shafts and equipment, Mine surveying, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Mining software

Epiroc has won a multi-year order that is its largest ever for digital solutions, from mining company Codelco in Chile. The package of advanced digital solutions it says will strengthen safety and productivity at the El Teniente copper mine.

Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, has ordered a combination of digital solutions that will – among other things – optimise fleet management and ore production, provide visibility of people and machines underground, collect machine performance data, and help avoid vehicle collisions. The solutions will be used at El Teniente’s underground as well as surface operations.

The five-year project is valued at about MSEK250, and the first phase was booked in the fourth quarter 2023 at a value of about MSEK50. “Digital solutions are increasingly important to ensure mining companies can reach their full potential when it comes to safety and productivity,” says Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO. “Codelco has long been on the technological forefront, and we are happy to continue to support them as they further enhance their digitalisation to ensure operator safety and maximum operational efficiency.”

Epiroc, through its Digital Solutions division, says it is bundling together a wide variety of digital solutions that enhance mining companies’ operations. With this order, Codelco is upgrading its existing digital solutions and adding a collision-avoidance system and the ability to collect machine performance data.

“We are proud to expand our partnership with Codelco as they advance their digital journey, with an offering that provides an agnostic ecosystem across connectivity, automation, safety and productivity applications,” says Paul Bergström, President of Epiroc’s Digital Solutions division.

Key building blocks of Epiroc’s digital offering include Certiq, a telematics solution, which gathers, compares and communicates vital equipment information; MineRP’s enterprise mining data platform focuses on standards-driven integration of technical and business data, and interoperability of software applications; the Mobilaris product portfolio which has situational awareness at its core where real-time data and superior 3D visualisation enable transparency and awareness; and the My Epiroc digital fleet management solution for mining and infrastructure operations. My Epiroc, available for both web and mobile devices, aims at boosting fleet efficiency and safety.

On collision avoidance, Andreas Prill, Acting BLM, Digitalisation at Epiroc recently told IM: “The Epiroc CAS/PDS is very unique in the sense that it comprises of a number of sensors ranging from low frequency, sub GHz RF, time of flight, GPS, cameras and radars which can be freely combined to achieve the highest level of safety for various environments like underground or surface operations and for the individual use cases a mine wants to address.”

Ghana’s Adamus Resources rolls out new large fleet of 100 t class Liebherr T 236 mining trucks

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining people, Mining services, Precious metals

In a bid to boost its production capacity, Ghana’s wholly Ghanaian-owned gold mining major, Adamus Resources Ltd, with financial support from its parent company, Nguvu Mining Ltd, has launched 13 100 t capacity Liebherr T 236 electric drive mine haulage trucks at the company’s Nzema operation at Essiama in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region. The trucks were manufactured at Liebherr’s Colmar factory in France.

Nzema is located approximately 300 km west-southwest by road from the capital city Accra, and 80 km west by road from the port of Takoradi. It was the first mine to be owned by Nguvu Mining. The mine was acquired from Endeavour Mining in 2017. Nguvu Mining a has 90% interest in the mine, with the Government of Ghana holding the remaining 10%.

The miner said the acquisition of the haulage trucks augments its existing heavy-duty equipment and forms part of Adamus Mining’s expansion drive. Achieving this milestone which has been one of the company’s major goals, has strengthened its on the ground resources. The Liebherr T 236 Litronic Plus AC drive system enables a constant application of power to ground that is less sensitive to grade and payload variations. With a high take-off torque capability, the T 236 is designed to meet the most challenging operating environments.

The Cummins QST30-C Quantum Electronic Control System governs the high pressure pump and unit injectors for precision injection pressure and timing, while swirl-port cylinder heads optimise durability and combustion sealing. Advanced airflow improves fuel economy, low- end torque performance and emissions capability.

The colourful event was witnessed by some prominent chiefs of the Nzema Traditional Council led by the President of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli the Third. Also at the ceremony were the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the District Chief Executive of Ellembelle, Kojo Bonzoe and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of mines, amongst other players of the mining industry.

The Western Regional Minister, Okyere Darko-Mensah praised the management of Nguvu Mining Ltd for its continuous investments and immense contribution to the local economy, especially with the employment of over 1,100 indigenous people by the company. He added that without Adamus mining in Ellembelle, the local economy would have collapsed.

He said Adamus’ culture of being a company that listens to the community has led to an interesting stage where the company involves residents in responsible and sustainable community mining operations. He added that the company has made all the necessary arrangements to start community mining on their concessions, and is doing so well in supporting and supervising this project to sustain mining in the Ellembelle District.

The Regional Minister said he believes that the new arrangements are more sustainable and will ensure that the people of Nzema own some of the productive mining businesses in their district to generate revenue for themselves and their communities. “As an advocate for mining myself, I do believe that if Ghana has to grow then it means that we have to consistently support the mining sector in this country.”

He stressed that it was a fact that without gold, Ghana’s economy would have been in tatters after the COVID-19 pandemic, and for that matter, he has been pushing for increased gold production to support the economy of Ghana and all mining communities.

The CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Sulemanu Koney, commended the management of Nguvu Mining Ltd and Adamus for investing in the latest technology that is expected to help the company achieve its 120,000 oz per annum target. He said there is no doubt that this diesel electronic drive has become a benchmark in the 100 t class for off-highway mining trucks, showcasing top performance, maximising uptime and low operational cost.

The truck boasts a design that is embedded with safety considerations for maintenance technicians and operators by eliminating various hazards. Its commitment to the comfort of operators has been well considered with an ergonomic cabin to promote driver efficiency and enhanced superior performance.

“We believe that their robust design and advanced technology will undoubtedly contribute to increased operational efficiency at Adamus Mining and further set a new standard for the mining industry in Ghana,” said Koney.

The statement said that Liebherr International AG, “a renowned name in the global mining equipment industry has a history of delivering top-notch products that align with the needs of modern mining operations.” Koney said: “The Liebherr 100t T236 trucks are no exception. I’m confident that their integration into Adamus Mining Resources operations will reduce downtime with low cost and improve overall performance.”

The symbolic key to the trucks was jointly presented to the CEO of Nguvu Mining Ltd, Angela List by the Executive Vice President of Liebherr Mining, Dr Jörg Lukowski and Member of the Administrative Board of Liebherr International, Sophie Albrecht. Speaking after the presentation, Lukowski thanked the management of Nguvu Mining for their trust in them plus he assured them that Liebherr will work hard to deliver on its promises in terms of training and after-sales services.

Speaking after the launch, List said her company’s partnership with Liebherr has provided them with an excellent result in terms of top-quality mining equipment, with the latest being the first of its kind in Ghana. She said looking at various specifications of equipment, the T236, an electric truck with the superior after-sales service and training that Liebherr offers is a huge step for the group. She said the trucks will help accelerate the movement of the ore from the ground to the processing plant.

List also said the company believes in quality human resources and therefore has trained people from scratch especially the community members who had no skills at all including women. The CEO, who is committed to gender balance expressed joy about the fact that female employees who had no skills in driving, and started with the company as cleaners, have now been trained to become qualified operators. The women displayed their skills with the trucks after the launch. According to her, female operators are extremely competent and committed to safety, adding that she wants to see more women excelling in the male-dominated fields of the company.

List also said there is a cordial relationship with the host communities because community members have recognised that Adamus’ interest goes beyond personal gains. She said the company has the entire community, the various chiefdoms and all the people of Nzema land at heart. She said their doors are always opened to them for dialogue, discussions of progress, and implementation of corporate social responsibility initiatives, while efforts are made to employ more locals to make life easy for them.

On his part, the President of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli the Third, lauded the company for its contributions to the mining industry and the communities in their operational areas. While pledging the support of traditional authorities for mining activities, he said some people are only against community mining due to environmental challenges such as the degradation of forests and the pollution of water bodies. Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli the third said traditional authorities support sustainable and eco-friendly community mining for the protection of the environment for future generations.

 

Trafo Power Solutions designs, manufactures & supplies over 40 substations to Kamoa Copper

Base metals, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining services, Power supply for mines

Trafo Power Solutions says it has supplied 40 dry-type mini-substations, as well as seven standalone ring main units, to Kamoa Copper SA, one of the Africa’s largest and fastest growing copper operations, situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kamoa Copper is the operator of the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex.

“We are immensely proud to be involved in this mega project,” says David Claassen, Managing Director at Trafo Power Solutions. “Considerable design work and planning went into this contract, with very demanding lead times to keep up with the mine’s rapid expansion.”

The mini-substations include units of between 630 kVA and 1,600 kVA capacity with primary voltages of 11 kV and 33 kV. The secondary voltage configurations are 400 V, 690 V and 1,000 V – and some units have dual-ratio secondaries. Protection against the ingress of water and dust was also designed into the units, with an IP54 ingress protection rating.

Fully designed and manufactured in South Africa, the mini-substations were completed in a streamlined production process that facilitated a fast track delivery in batches of five to six units every 10 days. After the manufacturing and assembly process, each unit went through a programme of intensive testing before it was ready for dispatch.

“The units are designed to be as compact as possible,” he explains. “While many will be used for surface infrastructure, the design had to ensure that they could be used underground, where space is limited.”

The underground environment is governed by stringent safety regulations and standards, making the dry-type transformer an ideal choice. This technology uses air rather than oil to cool the windings, making it safer with less risk of fire, explosion or environmental contamination through leakage. The windings in dry-type transformers are also encapsulated with cast resin, protecting them against humidity levels up to 95%.

Undertaking both the electrical and mechanical design, Trafo Power Solutions has ensured a limited footprint through the use of air-to-air heat exchangers. Air is channelled through the transformer windings and flows over the aluminium tubes of the heat exchanger, while a fan blows air through the tubes to cool the air on their outer surface.

“The substation design also includes arc protection, which will shut the unit down in the event of an arc occurring – before any further damage can be caused,” he says. Each mini-substation is equipped with a control system that will allow the protection functions to be monitored remotely.”

The contract was conducted through a leading South African engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) firm, and Trafo Power Solutions ensured that all units were delivered by the end of 2023.

“Our early engagement with the EPCM was important on this project, as it allowed our team to understand the project requirements and develop a cost effective solution,” Claassen says. During this process, all documentation was strictly managed within an online system, including designs, specifications and test certificates – to which the EPCM and end-client had easy access. In this way, designs could be uploaded, shared and signed off using this platform, further streamlining activities for the fast pace of the project.

“The ring main units are fully motorised and controlled externally by remote pendant switching,” he says. “This enhances safety and ease of management, so that personnel seldom have to open the panel doors which requires the necessary safety equipment and protocols.”

The transformers are rated for Class H insulation – for temperatures up to 180 degrees – while the dual-voltage boards are sizeable for a relatively complex voltage distribution system on each mini-substation.

“The detailed design and variety of solutions within the complete contract package really highlights the technical capability of the Trafo Power Solutions team,” says Claassen. “This can be seen in the mini-substation from the medium voltage side and its control and protection functionality, through to the low voltage distribution and the customised transformer design for these applications.”

He emphasises that the standard attributes of dry-type transformers allow them to operate reliably with very little maintenance. With air rather than oil for cooling, for instance, they do not require any regular oil testing or oil changing.

The robust nature of dry-type transformers makes them well-suited for mining applications, whether surface or underground. Claassen notes that Trafo Power Solutions’ extensive experience in Africa reflects that dry-type technology is becoming more popular in the mining sector. The reasons for this trend include their inherent safety, their reliability and their ability to operate without much maintenance.

Sandvik builds its base to grow lifecycle screening solutions across Africa

Bulk handling, Comminution of minerals, Equipment maintenance, Mineral processing, Mining consumables, Mining maintenance, Mining services

To provide customers with screening solutions that suit their needs and fit their infrastructure, OEMs must be close at hand with the right facilities and expertise, according to Mats Dahlberg, Sandvik’s Vice President for Screening Solutions in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

This is a key element of the strategy being rolled out in Africa by Sandvik Rock Processing, as it takes a leading position in bringing customers innovative solutions for the full lifecycle of screening equipment. The extensive footprint of the Sandvik group on the continent is being leveraged, with entities being empowered with training and extra resources to support its full range of screens.

“Our screening offering now includes a wide range of capacities and applications, which we can support through our strong presence in Africa,” says Dahlberg. “A strategic priority is being close enough to customers to understand their requirements in detail, and customise solutions to align with existing site infrastructure.”

“This requires a strong local presence and technical competencies, along with a regional supply chain for better responsiveness,” he says. “This can be achieved alongside the global commonality of screen components, which ensures customers of a safe, reliable and tested product.”

Sandvik already has registered entities in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana, Mali and Burkina Faso, and a distributor in Mozambique. Tarynn Yatras, Vice President of Sales Area Africa for Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions, highlights that the company has already begun employing more resources to strengthen the technical capability of these entities in the field of screening.

“We are also able to hold higher volumes of spares and components in-country, for instance, reducing lead times for customers,” says Yatras. “Customers of all our screen ranges and brands have started to see the benefit of our enhanced in-country support.”

SAM by Sandvik is expected to play a more important role as a digital platform through which customers can receive remote support and other digital services. Local manufacture of screens has also been an important feature of the company’s expansion strategy in Africa. The Sandvik Rock Processing facility in South Africa is the first one globally within Sandvik to be capable of producing all the company’s screen product lines. It has also begun producing original Sandvik screens and feeders for local customers.

As a leading global screening solutions media supplier, the strategic focus in Africa will also include strengthening the existing local manufacturing capability and supply chain for screening media.

Brazilian rare earths miner Serra Verde begins commercial production

High tech minerals, Mineral processing

Serra Verde has commenced commercial production of Mixed Rare Earth Concentrate (MREC) from Phase I of its Pela Ema deposit in Minaçu, Goiás State, Brazil. Once it has ramped up to full production, Serra Verde is expected to produce at least 5,000 t per year of rare earth oxide used in the manufacture of high-efficiency permanent magnets required for electric vehicle motors and wind turbine generators.

MREC samples from Serra Verde have already been accepted by major customers, and offtakes for a large proportion of planned production are in place with established processing companies. The company has begun work to increase Phase I capacity at Pela Ema through plant optimisation and is assessing the potential for a Phase II expansion which could double run-of-mine production before 2030.

Pela Ema is a large, long-life ionic clay deposit that contains an elevated proportion of high value heavy and light REEs, primarily neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), terbium (Tb) and dysprosium (Dy) that are key to the energy transition. Serra Verde says it also aims to be the most sustainable supplier of rare earth materials in the world by leveraging the superior sustainability credentials of its operations and applying world class operating standards.

Serra Verde uses “low operating risk open mining techniques and simple, established processing technologies with no hazardous chemicals resulting in lower operating costs and reduced environmental impacts.” Serra Verde’s electricity supply is entirely sourced from renewable energy sources and the operation is in an established mining district with access to technical skills and developed road and port infrastructure.

Thras Moraitis, CEO of Serra Verde said: “The start of commercial production is a critical milestone in our development and means we are now the only company outside Asia to produce at scale all four critical rare earths used in the production of permanent magnets. Our product can play a critical role in supporting the growth in production of electric vehicles and wind turbines that are vital to the energy transition. As we ramp up to achieve nameplate capacity, Serra Verde is also working to build downstream partnerships to support the development of long-term, sustainable supply chains.”

Ricardo Grossi, President of Serra Verde Pesquisa e Mineração and COO of the Serra Verde Group commented: “We are proud to become Brazil’s first large scale rare earths producer, starting a new phase in the country’s proud mining history. As we develop our operations, we aim to become the most sustainable rare earths operation in the world and create measurable benefits for all stakeholders. The start of commercial production is a very important achievement, and I would like to thank all the members of the Serra Verde team who have helped us reach this critical milestone.”

Vale Base Metals IROC in Sudbury now overseeing all five of its Ontario mines

Automation, Base metals, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mine shafts and equipment, Mine ventilation, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining people, Mining safety, Mining services, Precious metals

Vale Base Metals in Canada took a big step forward recently with its Integrated Remote Operating Center (IROC) in Sudbury now servicing all five of its underground mines in Ontario which produce nickel, copper, cobalt and PGMs.

The miner stated: “Using digital technology, the IROC serves as an air traffic controller of sorts, continuously monitoring our underground operations (equipment usage, daily production) and providing real-time feedback and support. It’s another way we’re leveraging technology to ensure we’re a safe, reliable, best-in-class operator.”

A spokesperson at Vale additionally told IM: “Our integrated remote operating centre combines proprietary and off-the-shelf technology to provide a comprehensive view of productivity and overall mine performance. This allows supervisors, superintendents and managers to troubleshoot and adjust plans in real time across our Coleman, Copper Cliff, Creighton, Garson, and Totten mines.”

They added that to date it has observed notable productivity gains, including a significant increase in seat time across the five mines. Seat time refers to the hours that a piece of equipment is operated in a 10.5 hour shift.

The Ontario mines are accessed using a combination of shafts, declines, and internal ramps. Several mining methods are used across the five perations: open stoping (longitudinal, transverse, slot-slash); post-pillar cut-and-fill; narrow vein cut-and-fill; vertical retreat; uppers retreat and mechanised cut-and-fill. Each mine has a substantial history of which mining methods work best under various geological and geotechnical conditions. This production record is considered when selecting the mining method.

The ore and waste handling system varies at each mine. Ore can be transported using load-haul-dump vehicles to a central loading area or ore pass, and then trucked to an underground crusher, from where it is hoisted to surface; or, if the mine has decline access, it is trucked to surface. Most of the waste rock is used underground as fill, although some rock hoisting of rock can occur. Each mine has a ventilation system in place. Some ventilation circuits are shared with Glencore operations.

Vale Base Metals has a large fleet of mobile equipment consisting of approximately 650 units distributed between the operating mines depending on each mine’s operational requirements. The number of units for each mine changes over the LOM as development and production rates and haulage distances vary on an ongoing basis. The total production and development fleet consists of over 200 units, consisting of production drill jumbos, development jumbos, LHDs, haulage trucks, and specialty vehicles to load explosives.

Loading equipment includes both 7.2 t and 9 t capacity LHDs, although Totten has some 5.4 t units. Smaller 2.3–3.2 t LHDs are used as utility vehicles in all the mines. Haulage equipment includes 27 t, 36 t, and 45 t capacity haulage trucks. Coleman  has six 45 t capacity electric trolley trucks working on a truck-priority haulage ramp.

Innovative equipment solutions on display at Future Minerals Forum 2024 in Riyadh

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mineral exploration, Mining equipment, Mining services

To date the Saudi Future Minerals Forum, the third edition of which is being held this week in Riyadh, has been primarily a conference and knowledge sharing event. However, it also has a sizeable and growing exhibition and as IM discovered, the latest installment of the event in 2024 is featuring more equipment on display than in previous years. This element of the event is also expected to grow as new mining operations in the country move from the planning stage to development.

We have already reviewed the remotely-operated soil sampling robot, NOMAD, which has been specifically designed to thrive in challenging terrains, such as those found in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as contributing to a smarter, greener and more sustainable economy. NOMAD is based on Mars rover technology and was developed by ERG Technology Intelligence, a division of mining group ERG.

Wide body mining trucks have a lot of potential in the Saudi market – being relatively low cost compared to rigid trucks plus having ease of maintenance in difficult desert mining conditions. China’s XCMG has its 60 t class XG90H on display outside the main hall – it features XCMG’s custom-made mine-specific high-horsepower engine and special gearbox, a 700 L super-large fuel tank, which meets the requirement of daily diesel consumption in conventional mining areas; plus an optimised exhaust system and precise calibration of the radiator, which it says reduces vehicle fuel consumption by 8%. XCMG also has a hydraulic excavator and grader on show in Riyadh this year.

Also outside, Turkey’s Boretech Mining, which has a representative office in Jeddah, has a large and powerful exploration drill rig on show – the BT 2500. This drill has a BQ depth capacity of 3,000 m/NQ 2,500 m/HQ 1,800 m/PQ 1,000 m with a 320 HP power unit provided by a Cummins 6CT engine. The pumps and rotation hydromotor are from Bosch Rexroth.

Inside the halls, equipment includes the Taurob Gasfinder, a reliable and fast robotic tool to identify even the smallest gas leaks – primarly aimed at the oil and gas industry but also with application potential in mining in large processing plants and concentrators. By deploying the Taurob Gasfinder, operators are able to identify and monitor gas leaks earlier and apply corrective measures and maintenance efforts to reduce emissions. Taurob is a Dietsmann Group company, and is based in Vienna, Austria.

Ivanhoe Electric has its powerful Typhoon™ geophysical surveying system on display at the event. Its Executive Chairman, Robert Friedland and President and Chief Executive Officer Taylor Melvin also announced results from the initial Typhoon survey conducted in Saudi Arabia by the 50/50-owned joint venture company established between Ivanhoe Electric and Saudi Arabian Mining company Ma’aden.

Ma’aden and Ivanhoe Electric established the Joint Venture to unlock the significant mineral potential in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Joint Venture has exclusive access to explore approximately 48,500 km2 of underexplored land on the Arabian Shield that Ma’aden will make available to the Joint Venture. Three prospective anomalies were identified for follow-up drill testing on the most prospective areas of the survey, which are south of Ma’aden’s Al Amar gold-copper-zinc mine.

Typhoon is the brand name for Ivanhoe Electric’s proprietary electrical geophysical surveying transmitter, which can survey for the presence of sulphide minerals potentially containing copper, nickel, gold and silver. Typhoon achieves its results through its unique specifications, which include a current output of up to 200 amps and a voltage output of up to 10,000 volts. The transmitter uses switches and capacitance systems, which generate a very pure and stable transmitted signal, resulting in an extremely high signal-to-noise ratio.

BQE Water’s Selen-IX™ to rehabilitate flow from historic tailings facility at Wharf mine

Environmental, Precious metals, Sustainable mining, Water management

BQE Water Inc, a leader in the treatment and management of mine-impacted waters, reports the successful completion of on-site pilot demonstration of its patented Selen-IX™ process at the Coeur Wharf heap leach gold mine in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota, US. The demonstration was the first critical step in the process of implementing selenium treatment that meets permit conditions associated with the mine expansion. The project is now fast tracked for full scale implementation in 2024.

Selen-IX it says was selected as the Best Available Technology (BAT) for this project over biological selenium reduction systems due to several factors including: ability to avoid reliance on dilution by meeting the in-stream limit directly at the end of pipe, performance unaffected by cold water temperatures, ability to operate in intermittent mode, ability to handle large and rapid fluctuations in feed flow, and minimisation of residue management costs.

Although there are multiple successful large scale Selen-IX plants currently in operation, Coeur requested the pilot demonstration to verify the process performance on the Wharf mine influenced water prior to initiating engineering design to minimise implementation risks. The pilot phase of the project involved a rapid deployment, start-up, and continuous operation of BQE’s mobile Selen-IX™ unit at site.

The campaign was accompanied by a rigorous sampling program to monitor process performance under variable feed conditions and included characterisation of the selenium solids to inform residue management and disposal in the full scale. BQE Water states: “Unlike biological systems that do not allow rapid demonstration due to the lengthy process inoculation and acclimation prior to reaching a steady state operation, the Selen-IX process starts to produce on-spec effluent at the design flow immediately and reaches a steady state within days.”

David Kratochvil, President & CEO of BQE Water, commented: “I am very proud of our technical team for delivering yet another flawless pilot project execution in close collaboration with the client’s operations personnel to meet and exceed all project objectives. This project also demonstrates the unique value of the Selen-IX process for clients with short timelines to reach environmental compliance by treating water at design capacity and producing target effluent water quality immediately after start-up. This feature is critical for Wharf as it fast tracks the full-scale treatment implementation in accordance with the mine permit, and BQE is committed to delivering technical excellence through all stages of the project and have a fifth Selen-IX plant in operation as soon as possible.”

First Sandvik AutoMine loader in Brazil starts operations at BHP’s Pedra Branca

Automation, Base metals, Mine shafts and equipment, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Precious metals

Brazil’s first AutoMine loader recently officially started operations at BHP’s Pedra Branca copper-gold mine in Para state, northern Brazil, an important milestone for Sandvik in the country, which says it is committed to supporting the future of sustainable and safe mining.

Specifically, the LH514 loader is using AutoMine Lite. Sandvik says this is a system that maximises equipment performance through automation, which results in increased productivity, safety, and savings in operations. “Fast, accurate, consistent and dynamic, it is designed for small- and medium-scale mining applications, especially in environments that are constantly changing. AutoMine Lite offers high performance for loading and conveying automation, making it a super effective solution.”

The first TH545i dump truck to operate in Brazil was previously delivered to Pedra Branca mine in late 2021, along with other Sandvik equipment including the loader. In total, the mine now has five different models of Sandvik drilling, loading and transport equipment as part of a modern and complete fleet.

The Carajás Province in Northern Brazil hosts a significant number of undeveloped copper-gold deposits. Prior to its acquisition by BHP, OZ Minerals said in its 2022 annual report that it was pursuing a staged, low risk and modest-capital hub approach in the Carajás, where each hub would process ore from several nearby satellite mines. A significant milestone was the commencement of underground mining at Pedra Branca in Água Azul do Norte in 2021, which is part of the Carajás East Hub and is the first of the intended satellite mines with Santa Lucia set to be second.

The Pedra Branca asset comprises an underground copper and gold mine with an 8-year mine life which ramped-up to full production during the June quarter 2022 and had been showing strong operational performance with multiple stopes consistently in production.

Most recently in its operational review for the quarter ending September 2023, BHP stated that the Carajás Province (ie Pedra Branca as the only operating mine) had produced 1,200 t of copper and 800 troy oz of gold. The much lower than usual figures were due to operations having been suspended in August 2023 due to a geotechnical event, but which recommenced in the following months. For the full year 2022, Pedra Branca had produced 11,378 t of copper and 8,674 oz of gold. In Q1 2023, the mine produced 3,207 t of copper and 2,638 oz of gold.

 

Agnico to build on Abitibi Monitoring Operations Centre with a facility in Ontario for Detour Lake

Automation, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mine shafts and equipment, Mine surveying, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining safety, Mining services, Precious metals, Sustainable mining

Agnico Eagle has released an interesting update on its Monitoring Operations Centre roadmap as part of its commitment to digital transformation. The gold miner said it is proud to be a sustainability leader committed to ensuring every ounce of gold it produces is mined safely and responsibly. But it adds: “As we continue to build our world-class business, we must also balance these commitments with market demands and stringent production targets.”

Raymond Yip, Agnico Eagle’s Vice President of Digital Transformation says: “Technology and data are at the forefront of the change to increase productivity, efficiencies, and lower operating costs. By adopting an innovative mindset, we are able to maintain our competitive edge, share best practices, build synergies, and be proactive in maintaining our production and sustainability standards.” The key, Yip says, is to transform the way it gathers and uses information so that it gets the right information to the right people at the right time. “This will allow us to make data-driven decisions for our people, our business, and the environment. Agnico Eagle’s new Digital Transformation team is working to make that happen.”

The team combines the talents of employees across various disciplines such as engineering, geology, metallurgy, Information Technology/Operational Technology, as well as subject matter experts, and worked to establish the company’s first Monitoring Operations Centre (MOC) in the Abitibi region of Quebec, which is the foundation of Agnico Eagle’s digital transformation journey. The team is charged with adopting and implementing the latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to analyse past data patterns and trends to predict future behaviour. Yip says: “We expect to apply these digital tools to all areas of the business. This journey is a big leap forward into the future. It’s about transforming the way we work to ultimately bring value to the business.”

The first Monitoring Operation Centre (MOC) was launched in summer 2023 at the Preissac office (CSD) for Quebec’s Abitibi region. The centre allows Agnico Eagle to make integrated business decisions at both the operational and centralised levels. “It will enable us to monitor our entire value chain, respond quickly to site-level problems, and maintain operational excellence,” it says.

“Right now, we can’t monitor every aspect of our operations and production environment,” says Sébastien Laflamme, Advisor, Digital Transformation. The MOC – with the latest digital technology – will give us that in-depth monitoring capacity. It will bring everyone together in one centre and enhance their ability to make more informed and integrated decisions. It will allow the team, for example, to ask a question such as, ‘If we use fewer explosives at the mine face, does the crusher need more energy to break the ore?’ In other words, what is the impact of my decision on your department?”

The MOC provides additional tools and monitoring functions, which will allow employees to monitor all aspects of a machine and make the entire production process more stable. Agnico Eagle stated: “It will provide a more accurate, real-time overview of what is happening on and beneath the surface. Right now, control room employees can only react when an alarm or sensor trips, or when a green light turns to red, which is often too late. With digital monitoring capacity, they’ll be able to see if there’s an underlying problem or deviation – for example a vibration issue – which could create a failure in the future if it’s not addressed immediately. By proactively dealing with these issues, Agnico Eagle can avoid damaged equipment, costly production delays, a safety issue or even an environmental disaster.”

Working closely with the LaRonde team, new job roles and functions have been identified and defined to accelerate the concept. The first full-time employees are now working out of the MOC, with additional job functions such as reliability and mine planning transferring from the mine site to the centre in the coming months. Teleremote operations will also slowly transition to the centre, furthering Agnico Eagle’s desire to improve safety and minimise exposure of workers.

With the first regional MOC having been established for the Abitibi region, the Digital Transformation team will replicate the model for other regions where Agnico Eagle operates. The team is currently working with the Ontario region to develop a second MOC at Detour Lake Mine, with a target to have it established in 2024.

Yip comments: “While these initiatives are about technology, in my mind this is really a change management endeavour. We’ll need the support of our people to make it a success. The centre exists to give our people the tools and information they need to make better decisions for our workplace, and for our company.”

Agnico Eagle’s digital transformation journey is expected to uncover synergies between its global operations, allowing it to do more with less. “A team in Australia, for example, could help its counterpart in Quebec analyse and solve a problem by sharing best practices, without ever leaving the country. Not only will this digital transformation improve our decision making, but it will also provide a stronger foundation for Agnico Eagle’s financial and Environment, Sustainability and Governance (ESG) reporting. In the marketplace, the competitive advantage will go to the company that can accurately report on its carbon footprint and reductions, and its plans to achieve carbon neutrality along its entire value chain.”

Nancy Guay, Agnico Eagle VP Technology Optimisation and Innovation states: “Our innovative mindset combined with the digital tool – the data – will create a fantastic environment for our people to grow and demonstrate our value of trust, respect, equality, family and responsibility. All while maintaining our high standards in operations, health & safety, and sustainability. The Monitoring Operations Centre, the MOC, combined with our data analytic capability, are pivotal to ensure cohesion between all our ongoing initiatives such as core scanning, AU, fleet management systems (FMS), Deswik etc. For us, that project perfectly fits our vision to transform our business and not only from a digital point of view. It was a long journey that will help to create more opportunity. Agnico Eagle has always embraced innovation and leveraged technology to improve safety, efficiency and sustainability. This will maintain Agnico Eagle at the forefront of the digital transformation and a leader in the gold industry.”

Yip continues: “Technology and data are at the forefront of the change to increase productivity, efficiencies and lower operating costs. At Agnico Eagle, our digital transformation journey is focused on optimising our operations. By utilising IoT sensors and other technologies, we’re gathering various points of data from all aspects of our mining operations. We then take the data, centralise it into a data lake, and using state of the art AI and machine learning capabilities, we’re able to provide our operational teams with data that will help them make data driven decisions. Its about getting the right information in the hands of the right people at the right time. For us the Centre is more than just a room: the MOC is a vision, a philosophy.”

Christian Goulet, GM at the Agnico Eagle LaRonde operation: “Since 2018, with the addition of several new technologies, for us the Centre will be the ultimate tool to manage the data we’ve been gathering for several years and to continue to improve our productivity, control our costs and guarantee a safe operating environment for our workers. Today, with the advent of the Monitoring Operation Centre, we are confident that we will offer exciting, quality jobs, as well as safe and perennial working operations.”

Laflamme adds: “The MOC is for me a tool I dreamed to have as a superintendent, a tool that gives more visibility on our operation and to understand the impact of each decision across the chain of value. The main function of the Monitoring Operation Centre is to collect and house data that is accessible to everyone, and to turn the data into information that will detect deviations to make timely adjustments when needed. Just by adding visibility and analysing the data that we already have, we will be able to realise improvements to the operations. With digital monitoring capability, teams can easily identify an underlying problem or deviation. We are currently developing a methodology and expertise with the first Monitoring Operating Centre and that’s just the first step of our journey. We will adapt according to different region needs and scale it. People are already engaged and motivated to work in the new environment.”

Simon Lambert, Superintendent, Surface Projects and Asset Management commented: “The people who are going to be joining the team have been working in their departments for a number of years and now they want to bring their expertise into other departments and that’s what really motivates everyone who’s going to be working in the MOC. Now the MOC will help us improve productivity by increasing usage of the assets across the whole value chain as we get real time data.”

Yan Cabot, General Superintendent, Underground Maintenance and Optimisation stated: “We will optimise our assets since we’ll be able to enhance our diagnostic level and to improve the evaluation of our underlying cause analysis. We’re really proud to be the first operation involved with this project and to have the opportunity to develop this knowledge base that will help share the information and pool our expertise for the Abitibi region.”

Yip concludes: “In order to increase efficiencies, we need to transform the way we work with the data, decreasing the amount of time it takes for people to prepare the reports and giving the more time to focus on analysing the data. In order to do this, we need to adopt a new way of thinking. Data democratisation is about making data more accessible and available to people than ever before. Its about enabling our people with direct access to data that’s relevant to them and their respective functions. By doing this, we’re empowering them with tools they can use to analyse the data faster and more effectively than ever before. Its much more effective to teach people to fish instead of doing the fishing for them.”