Sandvik is to deliver a full OptiMine® platform to Vedanta Zinc International’s Black Mountain Mining (BMM) operations in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province.

The company will commission OptiMine for trucks, loaders and drills next year, accelerating BMM’s data-driven operation for world-class mining safety, efficiency and productivity, Sandvik said.

The OEM-independent OptiMine digital platform includes equipment/asset location tracking; planning and task management; scheduling; monitoring equipment and operations and OptiMine Analytics with IBM Watson IoT.

Andre Trytsman, General Manager, BMM, said: “OptiMine gives us end-to-end visibility and control over our underground mining operations. It was important to us to have the full scope, from scheduling to analytics, to ensure we’re optimised for the safest and most productive operation possible.

“The OptiMine platform is the next step in Black Mountain’s digital journey, delivering efficiency and increasing operational performance allowing us to unlock more value. We are excited to partner with Sandvik and incorporate the OptiMine technology into Vedanta Zinc International’s exciting digital strategy.”

Last year, Vedanta Zinc signed an agreement with GE South Africa to collaborate on digitalisation at the Gamsberg zinc project, part of the BMM operations.

Sandvik says OptiMine integrates all relevant data into one source, delivering powerful real-time and predictive insights to improve operations. It is open and scalable, providing flexibility to grow as needed, and incorporate other equipment, systems and networks, the company added.

BMM’s current operations are comprised of two underground mines – Deeps and Swartberg – and a processing plant. The Deeps shaft produces copper, lead and zinc, with silver as a by-product, and the Swartberg mine produces primarily copper and lead, with silver as a by-product. BMM is also developing Gamsberg in the Northern Cape.

Patrick Murphy, President, Rock Drills and Technologies, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology, said: “Sandvik is proud to work with the BMM team to integrate and optimise their mining processes with OptiMine, developing a world-class, data-driven operation and accelerating their productivity and safety.”