Tag Archives: Ahafo

Delta Drone to fly UAV-based LiDAR units at Newmont’s Ahafo gold mine

IoT, Mine operation news, Mine surveying, Mining services, Mining software, Precious metals, , , , , , , ,

Global drones-as-a-service provider Delta Drone International says it has been re-appointed by Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd, a subsidiary Newmont in Ghana, for a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) project on its Ahafo mine.

Delta Drone International will provide a drone-based LiDAR solution to create an accurate 3D model of the earth and its surface characteristics to map new areas for the mine and mitigate potential risks prior to mine expansion construction commencing, the company says.

Delta Drone International CEO, Christopher Clark, said: “To continue working with Newmont Corporation, one of the world’s leading enterprise gold mining companies, who is using advanced drone techniques for several types of project applications, is a testament to our specialist expertise and drones-as-a-service model.”

He added: “Using the latest in drone LiDAR technology, we can fly with this sensor in a fixed-wing drone, allowing us to map new areas and essentially compete with manned LiDAR, but at a lower price point.

“We are seeing increased demand to use our LiDAR capability to create ‘digital elevation models’ that allows companies to see below thick forest and other surface vegetation and more accurately determine site suitability for certain types of infrastructure and how a site can be used.”

Immersive to deliver training simulator to Newmont Ahafo gold mine

Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , , , , ,

Immersive Technologies is to deliver its 100th Conversion Kit® for Caterpillar® equipment owners within the continent of Africa, with the milestone high-fidelity operator training simulator set for the Newmont-majority owned Ahafo gold mine, in Ghana.

The order includes simulation for training operators of the 777G and 785C haul trucks, D11T dozers, and 6030 shovels and excavators. These units mark the 98th, 99th, 100th and 101st conversion kits that Immersive Technologies has delivered to further workforce development initiatives in the Africa region for mines who require high-fidelity simulation solutions for their Caterpillar equipment, it said.

Johan Stemmet, Regional Vice President Africa, said: “We are excited to provide a high level of value and service to Newmont for this important mining project by supporting community skills development and increasing operator safety and productivity levels. We continue to put the customer first and deliver industry-endorsed solutions for all OEM makes as evidenced by our leading market share across the largest global miners.”

Newmont Goldcorp delivers the hat-trick with Ahafo mill expansion

Comminution of minerals, Mine operation news, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Precious metals, , , ,

Newmont Goldcorp has announced that the Ahafo mill expansion in Ghana achieved commercial production, on schedule and within budget for around $175 million.

Combined with the Subika Underground operation, which was successfully completed in November 2018, the mill expansion is expected to increase Ahafo’s average annual gold production to between 550,000-650,000 oz/y through 2024, while lowering life-of-mine processing costs.

“The Ahafo mill expansion represents our third profitable project delivered on schedule and within budget in 2019, along with the Tanami power project in Australia and the Borden mine in Canada,” said Tom Palmer, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The mill expansion is expected to generate an internal rate of return of more than 20% at a $1,200 gold price, while also extending profitable production at Ahafo through at least 2029.”

Features and benefits of the mill expansion include:

  • Increasing mill capacity at Ahafo by more than 50% to nearly 10 Mt/y with the addition of a crusher, grinding mill and leach tanks to the circuit;
  • Adding annual gold production of 75,000 to 100,000 oz/y for the first five full years beginning in 2020;
  • Accelerating efficient processing of ore from stockpiles and the Subika underground mine, as well as harder, lower-grade ore from Ahafo’s existing pits; and
  • Supporting profitable development of Ahafo’s highly prospective underground resources, which continue to demonstrate considerable upside.

Ahafo is expected to deliver record production this year – with improved costs – driven by higher grades from the Subika open pit, a full year of mining from the Subika underground mine and the completion of the Ahafo mill expansion.

Commercial production began at Ahafo in 2006, and, in 2018, the operation sold 436,000 oz of gold at all-in sustaining costs of $864 per ounce.

Newmont Goldcorp Ahafo expansion project produces first ore

Mine operation news, Mineral project development, Mining project news, Precious metals, , , , ,

Newmont Goldcorp says the Ahafo Mill Expansion (AME) project in Ghana has successfully processed its first ore and is on track to achieve commercial production in the December quarter of 2019.

The mill expansion will increase average annual gold production at the Ahafo mine by between 75,000-100,000 oz for the first five years, beginning in 2020, with mill capacity expanding by more than 50% through the addition of a crusher, grinding mill and leach tanks. It is expected to deliver an internal rate of return of more than 20% and, together with other projects at Ahafo, extend profitable production through at least 2029.

Tom Palmer, President of Newmont Goldcorp, said: “Combined with Subika Underground, which was successfully completed in November 2018, the mill expansion will increase Ahafo’s production to between 550,000 and 650,000 oz per year through 2024, while lowering life-of-mine processing costs.

“The project also accelerates the efficient processing of stockpiled ore and supports profitable development of Ahafo’s highly prospective underground resources, which continue to demonstrate considerable upside.”

In 2019, Ahafo is expected to achieve record production – with improved costs – driven by higher grades from the Subika open pit, a full year of mining from the Subika Underground and the completion of the AME. Capital costs for the AME are estimated at between $140-180 million. Commercial production began at Ahafo in 2006 and, in 2018, the operation sold 436,000 oz of gold at all-in sustaining costs of $864/oz.

Over the last six years, Newmont has successfully built 11 new mines, expansions and projects on four continents – on or ahead of schedule and at or below budget. These projects include Akyem and the Phoenix Copper Leach in 2013, the Turf Vent Shaft in 2015, Merian and Long Canyon in 2016, the Tanami Expansion in 2017, and Twin Underground, Northwest Exodus and Subika Underground in 2018, and the Tanami power project in 2019. The company also completed a value-accretive acquisition of Cripple Creek and Victor in 2015 and delivered a profitable expansion at the mine in 2016.

Newmont Goldcorp sees value in expanding process control support hub

Equipment maintenance, Mine operation news, Mineral project development, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Mining software, Precious metals, , , , , , ,

Newmont Goldcorp says it plans on expanding its Process Control Operations Support Hub globally following a successful pilot project launched in Australia, in 2018.

The company will start the expansion in Ghana, where its Ahafo, Akyem and Subika mines reside, but expects full implementation in 2020, it said.

The Process Control Operations Support Hub pilot project was launched in 2018 with a mandate to streamline process control systems, procedures and monitoring tools, the company said.

“Thanks to the teamwork and collaboration of our Boddington team, the pilot project was a great success, demonstrating the need for process control support and the value of the project’s innovations,” the company explained. “We learned that the operational support hub model accelerates the advanced process control value at our sites and allows for knowledge and expertise to be targeted in a cost-efficient way.”

The company also found that the demand for operations support hubs was higher than expected, and that introducing this support model would help drive improvement at its sites.

In line with the company’s Full Potential program’s mandate to identify opportunities for efficiency and innovation across our business, the support hub has added $2.8 million in what the company calls “Full Potential value” to date, Newmont Goldcorp said.