All posts by Paul Moore

SafeAI and Obayashi unveil electric, autonomous ADT

Automation, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining safety, Mining services, Sustainable mining

SafeAI, a global leader in autonomous heavy equipment, and Obayashi Corporation, a leading construction company, have unveiled a “first-of-its-kind” retrofit zero-emission, autonomous haul truck following trials at a test site in Spain. The Caterpillar 725 articulated dump truck (ADT) SafeAI believes is the first haul truck to have been retrofitted with autonomous and electrification technology.

The announcement stated: “This is a breakthrough in heavy industry that paves the way for companies to reuse their existing assets while improving operations and enabling them to reach their sustainability goals.” It adds: “Heavy industry companies have grappled with safety, productivity, and cost challenges for years. As Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments gained prominence in recent years, sustainability has also emerged as a top concern. Alone, autonomy or electrification can address some of these challenges, but together, they can have a massive impact.”

SafeAI says the project marks a significant leap forward for the industry. While autonomy and electrification have been implemented independently, it states that this is the first time a haul truck has been successfully retrofitted with both technologies. This enables companies to reuse and upgrade their existing assets while streamlining site operations and improving environmental performance.

“Just as our autonomous solution is designed to be open and interoperable to be applied to any make or model vehicle, we want our solution also to be powered by any energy source. This project is a step in that direction as it showcases how our autonomous ground vehicle stack is EV-compatible,” said Bibhrajit Halder, Founder and CEO of SafeAI. “I am proud of our latest endeavor of retrofitting a Caterpillar 725, marking the world’s first haul truck retrofitted with autonomous and electrification technology. This pioneering project is a testament to our commitment to an energy-agnostic, autonomous future where efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand.”

By marrying automation and electrification together, there are compounded advantages that are otherwise hard to achieve as independent technologies. On safety it enables a more advanced and safer charging infrastructure and workplace while removing employees from dangerous work environments to supervise from afar without needing to operate or refuel vehicles.

On efficiency, autonomy’s ability to enable 24/7 operations combined with the lower operating costs of electric vehicles improve overall productivity and cost-effectiveness, allowing companies to make the most of their assets.

Undercarriage view of the electric drive system including the Dana drive inverter

Relating to sustainability, companies have clear carbon-neutral goals. Autonomy alone can boost environmental performance on worksites by up to 13%, and by swapping out diesel for electricity, operators can cut net life cycle emissions by over 60%.

Finally on cost-effectiveness, brand-new electric, autonomous vehicles have steep upfront costs that are prohibitive to many companies. Retrofit technology allows companies to upgrade existing fleets in a more affordable and environmentally friendly way.

“When we started working with SafeAI, our partnership focused on safety and productivity. Now, we’re setting our collective sights on our next goal: to usher in a sustainable future for construction,” said Sugiura Shinya, Business Innovation Division General Manager of Obayashi. “In addition to demonstrating the synergy between autonomous and electric technologies, we’re also excited about the retrofit aspect of this project. The difference between the OEM approach and this initiative is that it puts the contractor in control. A retrofit approach allows contractors to proactively upgrade their vehicles to advance carbon neutral strategies.”

SafeAI and Obayashi have worked together since October 2020 to address common pain points across construction with autonomous solutions.

SafeAI retrofitted the vehicle with its proven, OEM-agnostic autonomous technology for this project with components including in this case a Hesai LiDAR. AVIA Engineering, a system integrator known for its expertise in the electrification and mechatronics of trucks, retrofitted the vehicle with a fully electric drive system. The electric drive system includes a Dana electric motor and drive inverter, which is the electrical connection between the batteries and the motor. The truck uses a Kempower charging unit to charge an Akasol battery pack.

“We are proud to be a part of this project at the cutting edge of innovation,” said David Sánchez, owner and CEO of AVIA Engineering. “By retrofitting these vehicles using a 100% electric Drive Train, it allows companies to recycle their existing assets and use them in a better, more sustainable way. Our team, in collaboration with SafeAI and Obayashi, is proud to have successfully integrated a fully electric powertrain and is looking forward to seeing where this first step can take us.”

TAKRAF provides custom-designed radial stacker for Platreef

Bulk handling, Mineral processing, Mining services, Precious metals

TAKRAF South Africa completed the design and supply of a radial stacker for the Platreef Project in South Africa in under eight months from contract award to delivery of the equipment, providing a customised solution for the greenfields platinum mine.

Awarded by Ivanplats (Pty) Ltd as an EPS project, the radial stacker was supplied for Phase 1 of the Platreef Project, considered to be the pilot plant phase of a two-phase expansion project for Ivanplats. The project, based in Mokopane in the Limpopo Province, comprises development of a 4.4 Mt/y underground mine, with two concentrators built in modules of 2.2 Mt/y each.

The slewing/non-luffing radial stacker features a capacity of 1,993 t/h; a fixed boom with dual walkway; a boom length of 44.6 m with a boom inclination of 13 degrees and a pneumatic heavy duty rubber tyre. The radial stacker was completely designed, sourced and fabricated in South Africa by TAKRAF’s South Africa Business Unit. It was engineered with a modular approach for ease of transport and ease of site installation.

Prior to being shipped to site as a partly pre-assembled unit, the stacker was fully assembled at the workshop to ensure that there would be minimal challenges on site during erection. With equipment delivery in the first quarter of 2022, following the project award in the third quarter of 2021, the radial stacker is assembled and in operation on site, stockpiling crushed platinum ore hoisted from the underground mine.

“We are proud to have been able to provide the client with a unique solution tailored to the project specifications, meeting the requirement for a locally produced radial stacker,” says Bhavesh Bhaga, TAKRAF South Africa General Manager Business Execution. “Congratulations to our team for their prompt technical support, which, together with the cost-effective solution and short lead times, ensured that we secured this important contract.”

Barrick and partner Zijin Mining get ready to restart Porgera gold mine in PNG

Mineral project development, Mining project news, Precious metals

Recently, all legal and contractual conditions necessary for the reopening of the the Porgera Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG) have been met and the mine is set to officially restart operations on 22 December 2023. With the ramp up of operations, first gold is expected to be poured in the first quarter of 2024.

Upon the full resumption of operations at the Porgera Gold Mine, Barrick Niugini Ltd (BNL), the 50:50 joint venture company between Zijin Mining and Barrick Gold Corporation in PNG, will continue to lead the operation of the mine, effectively ensuring the order of resumption of operations and production efficiency at the Porgera Gold Mine.

Zijin states that according to the latest plan of BNL, the Porgera Gold Mine has retained gold resources of 417 t which equates to almost 15 Moz. It adds that after resumption of operations and reaching the designated production capacity, the mine is expected to produce an average of over 740,000 oz of gold per annum. BNL holds the 49% equity of the project company (New Porgera Ltd, formerly referred to as the Porgera Joint Venture) of the Porgera Gold Mine and the PNG stakeholders hold 51% equity of the project company – including local landowners and the Enga provincial government.

The remaining life of the mine is over 20 years. Based on the company’s 24.5% indirect interest in the Porgera Gold Mine held through BNL, the gold production attributable to Zijin on an equity basis is expected to be approximately 176,000 oz/y, which will significantly increase Zijin’s overall gold production volume and generate a sustained and stable contribution to its profits. Over the total life of the Porgera Gold Mine, PNG shareholders will receive 53% of Porgera’s overall economic benefits – at an assumed gold price of $1,800 per ounce, this is expected to amount to more than $7 billion over the mine’s projected 20-year life.

BNL will share the remaining 47%. The economic profit-sharing is calculated based on cash flow distribution. The economic sharing received by the PNG shareholders comprises government taxes and fees, dividends from the project company, other cash distribution income, etc.

In 2015, Zijin invested US$298 million (US$100 million for equity and US$198 million for debt) to acquire its 50% interest in BNL. Prior to the suspension of operations of the Porgera Gold Mine in April 2020, Zijin says it had already recovered the investment cost of the project.

Porgera consists of both a producing open pit and an underground gold mine which has had an operating rate of approximately 5.2 Mt/y from the open pit and stockpiles and 0.8 Mt/y from underground. The mine produces gold in doré form from process plants utilising gravity as well as flotation followed by autoclaves and cyanide leaching.

The open pit mine has used a fleet of one O&K RH120 shovel and three O&K RH200 shovels (17 m3 and 26 m3 capacity, respectively) along with two Caterpillar 992 wheel loaders to load 8 Caterpillar 777 and 33 Caterpillar 789 mining trucks (90 t and 175 t class, respectively). Atlas Copco DML blasthole drills drill 10 m benches. Underground bulk stoping has utilised Caterpillar R2900 LHDs with Caterpillar AD45 and AD55 trucks with Epiroc Simba L6C production rigs.

Solvay completes spin off of Specialty activities including mining reagents to Syensqo

Base metals, Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining consumables, Mining services, Precious metals

Solvay has successfully completed the spin-off of its Specialty activities to Syensqo, which it describes as a pivotal moment in its rich history. This move marks a significant strategic shift for the group, positioning it as a frontrunner in essential chemicals on a global scale.

It says it “prepares Solvay to enter a new stage of sustainable growth, sharpening its focus on core business areas and reaffirming its dedication to market leadership, decarbonisation, and social responsibility.”

Syensqo provides mining operations worldwide with a wide range of reagent-based solutions designed for more efficient and effective mineral processing. The flagship products within Syensqo’s flotation portfolio includes collectors such as AEROPHINE and frothers such as OREPREP. It also offers depressants such as ACCO-PHOS, and dispersants like CYQUEST.

In addition to equipment and operations improvements, mines are now exploring novel continuous improvement strategies with the help of Syensqo focused on real-time reagent-based process optimisation and formulation. The result is tailored formulations, better dosing and, ultimately, better mineral recovery, all while reducing water and energy inputs for improved mining productivity.

With over 9,000 employees spanning 40 countries, the remaining Solvay company says it is committed to offering sustainable products that meet society’s fundamental needs. These include purifying air and water, preserving food supplies, safeguarding health and well-being, creating eco-friendly clothing, enhancing automotive tire sustainability, and contributing to the thermal insulation, cleanliness and protection of homes. The portfolio encompasses key mono technologies such as soda ash, bicarbonate, silica, hydrogen peroxide, fluorine and rare earths, phenol, and solvents.

Philippe Kehren, Solvay CEO: “At Solvay, our mission is to harness the power of chemistry to create sustainable products for the world’s most pressing challenges. Our commitment involves introducing process innovations and sustainable products, all while minimising our environmental footprint. With the simplification driven by the separation, Solvay is poised to reinforce its track record of achieving robust top-quartile industry margins, generating cash, and delivering attractive returns. Our aim is to create enduring value for employees, communities, customers, and shareholders through our integrated approach.”

WAYTOUS shows off cabless, autonomous and diesel-free CarMo vehicle at World 5G Conference

Automation, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining

From December 5 to 8, 2203, Chinese autonomous driving for mining technology company WAYTOUS had its cabless, autonomous and  diesel-free powered CarMo truck on show at the 2023 World 5G Conference in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. CarMo is described as a “new energy resources” form of transport equipment with complete independent intellectual property rights.

It adds that 95% of the key parts are sourced in China. It also highlights the autonomous loading position flexibility that the lack of cab brings and adds that the machine can be used for open-pit metal mines, non-metal mines, bulk cargo terminals and other heavy material transport scenarios. Its transport efficiency is cited as 10% higher than that of a human-operated truck, and that compared to an equivalent capacity truck it can reduce carbon emissions by 1,200 tons per year. It also estimates an 81.9% saving in comprehensive energy consumption costs when going uphill during heavy loads.

The unmanned operation of intelligent mines is a key application for unmanned driving technology in China with companies like WAYTOUS, EACON Mining and TAGE Idriver leading the way with autonomous haulage systems focused on mining. The drivers for these systems are reducing the number of people working in the mines, increasing safety and efficiency, and promoting green and low-carbon transformation of energy.

The CarMo can provide a load capacity of 60 t, and the drive system provides a maximum torque of 20,000 Nm, enabling smooth starting under high loads and meeting a maximum climbing rate of 35%. WAYTOUS says its power module can switch between pure battery electric power and fuel cell hydrogen power according to different usage scenarios and operational economic needs. The 525 Kwh battery pack allows for longer battery life and can cope with loads in various scenarios.

It was back in May 2023 that CarMo was officially launched at a special event in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, a major coal mining region. The vehicle was a major collaboration between institutes and industry. This includes on one side the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the International Advanced Technology Application Promotion Center, and the Inner Mongolia Research Institute of China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing). On the other are vehicle platform supplier Sunward Intelligent, based in Xingsha, Changsha County, Hunan Province and the autonomous technology provider WAYTOUS, based in Zhongke R&D City, Qingdao.

“The first set of mine intelligent carrying robot has made a major breakthrough in the research and development, achieving the true sense of unmanned mine transport vehicles, independent scheduling, remote monitoring and other functions, greatly improving the efficiency and safety of mine transport, and greatly reducing the human cost and environmental pollution. For the coal industry in Ordos the green low-carbon transition is of great significance,” said Vice Mayor of Ordos Municipal People’s Government Kong Fanfei, at the launch.

For its part, Sunward Intelligent says it will continue to adhere to the concept of “pioneer innovation”, strive to promote the development of advanced technology and equipment, and contribute Sunward’s strength to the construction of green and intelligent mines in China.

CarMo the partners say has achieved multiple technological breakthroughs in chassis function integration, core control algorithms, and perception and positioning integration. CarMo has three control modes: driverless driving, short-range remote control, and remote driving, which can meet the operating needs of multiple scenarios and working conditions. It has real-time and accurate environmental perception capabilities, and can independently select obstacles and other obstacles when encountering them. Or to avoid obstacles and avoid obstacles, multi-sensor fusion positioning can provide centimetre-level precise positioning. Through precise control and intelligent decision-making, CarMo can automatically adapt to complex road conditions, work together with the excavator, and automatically complete loading operations.

The brains behind CarMo is the WAYTOUS set of safe closed-loop parallel mining operating systems – known as YUGONG. With the support of this parallel mining operating system, vehicle operating status and data changes can be uploaded synchronously in real time, enabling remote monitoring and operation by drivers. In the parallel simulation system, the mining truck simulates 1:1 dangerous working conditions such as meeting cars, following cars, bypassing obstacles, and unloading on slopes, and conducts all-weather, full-time, and full-process tests to deeply verify the safe transportation plan of the mining truck.

Murray & Roberts Cementation achieves 1 Million Fatality Free hours on Palabora vent shaft

Mine shafts and equipment, Mineral project development, Mining safety, Mining services

Murray & Roberts Cementation, a leader in underground mining contracting, recently marked a significant milestone in its vent shaft contract which forms part of the Palabora Mining Company (PMC) Lift II expansion project. On 2 November 2023, the company celebrated 1 Million Fatality Free hours, a testament to its unwavering commitment to safety and operational excellence.

This impressive achievement at the PMC Lift II expansion project is not just a numerical milestone but a testament to the shared commitment to safety and operational excellence by both Murray & Roberts Cementation and PMC. Crucial to PMC, the project will extend the life of operations to beyond 2040 with the 8.5 m diameter ventilation shaft being integral to the Lift II block cave as part of its overall mining infrastructure.

The vent shaft project’s complexity and technical challenges highlight the expertise and experience of all parties involved. Under the leadership of Fred Durand, Senior Project Manager at Murray & Roberts Cementation, the project team has consistently emphasised safe execution. Durand notes that the company’s stringent safety protocols have been pivotal in reaching this milestone.

“The achievement of 1 Million Fatality Free hours is more than just a number; it’s a reflection of the deep-rooted safety culture that permeates every aspect of the project,” Durand says. “From planning stages to daily operations, safety is the cornerstone of the project’s success, demonstrating that even in the most technically challenging environments, prioritising safety is key to achieving remarkable outcomes.”

Aidan Schoonbee, Senior Manager for PMC’s Lift II Construction, Concentrator and Vent Shaft, says that as the PMC Lift II project continues to progress, this milestone serves as a reminder of the importance of safety in the mining industry. “It is a shining example of how collaboration, expertise and a steadfast commitment to safety can lead to extraordinary achievements.”

ABB agreement with Gravitricity to explore gravity energy storage systems in disused mine shafts

Environmental, Mine shafts and equipment, Mine ventilation, Mining consumables, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining

ABB has signed an agreement with UK-based gravity energy storage firm Gravitricity to explore how hoist expertise and technologies can accelerate the development and implementation of gravity energy storage systems in former mines.

Gravitricity has developed GraviStore, an innovative gravity energy storage system that raises and lowers heavy weights in underground shafts – to offer some of the best characteristics of lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro storage. Future GraviStores will store more than 20 MWh, providing long-duration storage and rapid power delivery to network-constrained users and operators, distribution networks and major power users.

Unlike batteries, the Gravitricity system can operate for decades without any reduction in performance. Gravitricity has already proven the system with a scale demonstrator and is exploring the potential to deploy their groundbreaking technology in decommissioned mines worldwide.

As a market leader for mine hoists with a large installed base of more than 1,000 hoist solutions worldwide, ABB says it will collaborate by providing research and development, product development and engineering teams specialising in the design, engineering and operations of mine hoists and mechanical, electrical and control technologies for hoisting.

“As the world generates more electricity from intermittent renewable energy sources, there is a growing need for technologies which can capture and store energy during periods of low demand and release it rapidly when required,” said Martin Wright, Gravitricity’s co-founder and Executive Chairman. “Our GraviStore underground gravity energy storage uses the force of gravity to offer some of the best characteristics of lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro storage – at low cost, and without the need for any rare earth metals.”

He adds: “We are already seeing significant interest from mine operators in Europe, India and Australia and this partnership with ABB – with decades of electrification and mine hoist system expertise – will help us accelerate our ambitious commercialisation plans. I am delighted we are working in tandem.”

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement is an important step in ABB’s ambition to further develop its lifecycle service business by collaborating with companies providing adjacent and value-adding technologies.

“ABB has 130 years of history with mine hoists, since we first electrified one in Sweden in the 1890s, but this collaboration with Gravitricity shows how we can continue to diversify and adapt our technologies,” said Charles Bennett, Global Service Manager, Business Line Hoisting, ABB Process Industries. “We are eager to progress with our collaboration and explore the possibilities as we become part of the next generation of renewable energy storage systems and make use of mine shafts that are no longer in service.”

Gravitricity will bring specialist expertise in grid compliance and control systems and the teams will work together on feasibility studies to understand the application of existing hoisting technology in gravity energy stores. ABB will also offer mining industry consultation and work to identify suitable sites and shafts for the deployment of GraviStore.

The decommissioning of mine shafts is a costly and time-consuming process for mining companies. By repurposing disused mine shafts for energy storage, mine shafts can fill a productive function for up to 50 years beyond their original lifetime, and can mitigate decommissioning costs, while simultaneously creating new job opportunities and contributing to the green energy transition.

ABB says it is a leader in developing world-class hoisting solutions and that as a supplier of complete mine hoist systems, “customers can benefit from low lifecycle cost, high reliability and system availability, short project execution time, and a single source of supply for complete systems, including service and spare parts.”

 

Anglo American Venture TraxIQ to disrupt haulage approach in mining and quarrying

Automation, Bulk handling, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining safety, Mining software, Sustainable mining

TraxIQ has been launched, a new Anglo American Venture that has set out with the specific aim of disrupting the status quo in haulage in quarrying and mining. It is being led by Luke Smith, who is Principal, Technology Development at Anglo American, working with other key team members including Anglo American Venture Builder Aljoscha Gleser.

Smith says TraxIQ is making bold progress towards a smarter, safer, more sustainable future for mining and quarrying, as when your trucks aren’t operating, you’re losing money. He says its autonomous vehicles will reduce productivity issues and keep profits on track. And whether operations are open pit or underground, greenfield or brownfield, TraxIQ is developing solutions that are scalable. “We’re reimagining mining with modular components, lighter materials, and smart technologies. The result will be a green, low-energy solution that protects the environment — and your bottom line.”

Aiming high at twice the efficiency and twice the speed, TraxIQ adds: “Our vision is a future in which CAPEX, OPEX, and human error decrease; profit, performance, and reliability increase; and nothing stays the same.” It is also seeking input from the mining and quarrying industries. “The more we understand the specific challenges you face, the better our solutions will be.”

This new approach to haulage was hinted at earlier this year at the Bank of America 2023 Smart Mine 4.0 conference, when Donovan Waller, Anglo American Group Head of Technology Development reminded the audience that mining has been using trucks & shovels for the past one hundred years – probably the most successful combination of mining technology ever. But there is still a lot of room for further innovation: “I attribute their success predominantly down to flexibility, reliability & scalability. We stepped into this hallowed ground and allowed ourselves a blank sheet exercise to address the shortcoming of mining trucks, namely: cost, speed & energy consumption.”

By adjusting the base operational assumptions of loading, and working with vehicle designers and tyre producers Anglo American says it has re-imagined weight distribution, symmetry, modularity and designing using only off the shelf components. “We surprised ourselves and have created a unique alternative value proposition, using the vehicle as a sensor, almost halving the energy used, increasing speed & effectiveness, all at a reduced cost. Whilst still early days – we have the makings of a future mining system focused on precision.”

Anglo American already has significant experience in disrupting haulage from a powertrain perspective through working closely with First Mode, the specialist engineering technology company it partnered with to develop the nuGen™ Zero Emissions Haulage Solution, a retrofit Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle design which was deployed on a Komatsu 930E that is still running at the Mogalakwena platinum mine in South Africa. Anglo American went on to become majority shareholder in First Mode, which today is working on applying this technology (plus Hybrid Electric Vehicle and Battery Electric Vehicle retrofit solutions) both on Anglo American’s own fleets but also commercially to other interested groups.

Glencore starts operation of first autonomous trucks at Minera Lomas Bayas

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

After launching Lomas Lab on its 25th anniversary, Chilean copper mining company Minera Lomas Bayas says it has continued to successfully develop this technology creation initiative aimed at designing, testing and strengthening the digitisation and automation of production processes at the operation, to then export them to other Glencore sites worldwide.

It recently presented the startup of one of the most iconic projects of this innovation centre, the use of autonomous haul trucks, a major step in the sustainability roadmap of the company, which intends to position itself as an industry leader in this category. The presentation was made after a launch ceremony during which regional authorities, executives, employees and others witnessed live the operation of this new technology for Glencore and Lomas Bayas. It also marked a major milestone as it represented the first autonomous haul trucks for Glencore as a company worldwide.

All the participants were able to learn about the technology in detail and observe remotely operation of the trucks, which meet the highest safety and manoeuverability standards. They are managed by qualified and trained personnel to face new Mining 4.0 challenges. This is another important step towards sustainable development for Lomas Bayas, in addition to the autonomous drills that are already remotely-enabled.

The AHS enabled trucks offer a potential decrease in fuel consumption of up to 4%, a lower frequency of safety events given the high range of sensors in the equipment and the relocation of personnel to safer areas. The trucks also operates for longer hours, improving the use and availability of the truck fleet.

The initial pilot project entails a first stage involving four Komatsu 930E-5 haul trucks, which will use Komatsu’s FrontRunner system for an autonomous day and night shift operation in a circuit of approximately 1 km within an area segregated from the rest of the conventional operation. If this pilot testing succeeds, the project will see a gradual increase the number of autonomous trucks until the entire fleet of 27 units goes autonomous by 2025.

In this regard, Pablo Carvallo, General Manager of Lomas Bayas, highlighted: “We take pride in the launch of the autonomous trucks, a proposal included in a path of technological implementations that are also related to the way we communicate and reconfigure the working culture.” He added: “We are promoting mining innovation at Lomas Bayas. Although we cannot compete in ore grade, we can compete in the way we do things, both efficiently and under the wing of technology. Therefore, we think that we are driving things from the bottom upwards to become much more agile in technology testing, and this implementation is proof of that. It has taken us half the time it took the rest of the industry and that is not by chance. That is the fruits of clear goals, very effective team connection and a way of working that we hope will differentiate us.”

Abraham Chahuán, Copper Assets Director – South America, said: “Our first autonomous trucks in the region are already operating, and this marks the completion of the first stage of this autonomy project, which we have decided as a Copper Department and Corporation, to then apply it at all the Glencore assets, so that we can all share the benefit of what we are currently testing here.”

“Together with this launch, we are implementing other projects such as autonomous drilling, which is being carried out here at Lomas Bayas and at other operations, and the idea is to continue to use our infrastructure and operation at Lomas Bayas as a laboratory, so that it results in a technological improvement that Glencore can leverage worldwide,” he added.

For Enrique Caballero, Regional Technology Transformation Manager at Glencore: “We are a school of learning and technology development that positions us as exporters of technologies, methods and models from the driest desert in the world to many other places on the planet. The purpose is to help deploy future projects safely and efficiently at other Glencore sites worldwide, becoming leaders and an example of sustainable mining.”

Caballero also highlighted teamwork as a key pillar to achieve this and the next goals set by Lomas Bayas: “We must not forget that everything is part of a perfectly functional and operational mechanism, of which each of us are fundamental pieces for the development of initiatives that position us as leaders in mining. Today we are carrying out drilling and truck autonomy systems, anti-collision systems, in addition to mining electrification, all under cutting-edge technology and at the forefront of the needs of modern mining.”

These initiatives constitute a robust and ambitious business plan that looks forward to the future and is in line with the evolution of the industry. This is another great leap forward for the Lomas Lab innovation program that is now working on a study for developing power supply via trolley assist, which has to potential to turn Lomas Bayas into the first mining company in the world to operate autonomous trucks under trolley.

The company says this new step taken by Lomas Bayas with the help of Lomas Lab is an opportunity to look at the future from an integrative perspective, meeting the needs of new generations, to generate, execute and demonstrate excellence in processes and to be compatible with a better quality of life for people in mining.

Anglo makes adjustments across its operations to address near term challenges

Base metals, Comminution of minerals, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mineral project development

Anglo American has provided an update on its performance during 2023 and has also set out capital expenditure and production guidance for the next three financial years. Duncan Wanblad, Chief Executive of Anglo American: “The prospects for mined products have rarely looked better. In the near term, given continuing elevated macro volatility, we are being deliberate in reducing our costs and prioritising our capital to drive more profitable production on a sustainable basis.”

He adds: “We are focused on what we can control – safety, operational discipline and capital allocation. We are confident in our actions to sustain the competitiveness of our world class assets and deliver on our outstanding growth opportunities in the metals and minerals that are so critical now and for generations to come.”

What does this mean on the ground at the mining operations? Starting with Los Bronces, Wanblad said it is a perfect example of the challenges facing the mining industry. “It is 156 years old, and as a result is facing cost pressure from depth and grades. With a reserve life of 34 years and plenty of resources to extend that, it is still an incredible ore body accounting for more than 2% of the world ́s known copper resources. However, the ore in the current mining area is very hard, impacting throughput and costs. It will be at least another two years before we can open up other areas of the mine so that we can blend this ore with higher grade softer ores and maintain production levels. Mine development has also been delayed in the last few years due to both covid-related and permitting delays.”

He adds: “While we work through those challenges in the pit, we are placing the older of the two processing plants on care and maintenance to reduce our operating costs and capex, which will help drive value. As a result of our actions, unit costs will be 15% lower. We will continue to invest in critical projects to enable a swift re-opening of the plant at the right time. Los Bronces remains an incredible ore body and it is important to recognise the merits of having a permitted operation in an established copper jurisdiction. To that end, we will continue to progress the studies for Los Bronces Underground.”

At Quellaveco in Peru, Anglo American has adjusted the mine plan based on the latest geotechnical assessments of a known fault. Wanblad: “Safety must come first – always. But the consequence is that we have rephased ~75,000 t of copper production into 2027. This new plan actually anticipates slightly higher overall volumes than previously forecast over the next five years, reflecting further optimisation of the mine sequence. Given the current copper market outlook, we may well also achieve higher real terms prices for those volumes.”

In South Africa, Transnet’s logistics performance is currently limiting Anglo’s ability to rail mined iron ore volumes at Kumba – and the operation is now stock-bound. “Had that been delivered to port, we would have made significantly more EBITDA. That unsold ore is also a significant blow to the South African fiscus. While the government now recognises the severity of the situation, it will take time for conditions to improve and a longer-term solution to be implemented. As a result, we are focusing on ensuring a balanced value chain through the reconfiguration of the business, including a revised mine plan and structural cost reduction to protect our margin.”

At the steelmaking coal assets, gas, depth and strata issues represent complex geotechnical challenges. Wanblad: “While our mining experience has resulted in improvements in procedures and risk management, we are still some way off where we had hoped to be at this stage. Our priority needs to be delivering safe and stable production and we are now focused on reconfiguring our cost structures for the near and medium term. Operational improvements, debottlenecking and automation represent opportunities to raise the productive capacity of these assets towards 20 Mt – and we are working to define those pathways.”