Haile gold mine Archives - International Mining

OceanaGold’s Haile gold mine in the US is investing in its employee and community development with an Immersive Technologies operator training solution that, Immersive says, supports the company’s strategy to maximise mining potential and continuously ensure safe, eco-friendly practices.

By modernising the technologies and tools available for training, the mine is expecting multiple stakeholder groups to benefit. The simulator includes Conversion Kits® (interchangeable cab modules) for Sandvik TH663 underground trucks and Sandvik LH517i loaders for underground operation. It also supports conversion kits for Komatsu PC4000-6 loaders and 730E haul trucks for the surface mine.

Simulator training allows operators to be trained and assessed without the need to borrow machines from production, Immersive says. This allows trainees to practice many skills, including safe machine operation before being placed into a live mining environment.

“Because operators are consistently shown and assessed on the proper operating techniques, they have a better understanding and knowledge of the real machine, they also burn no fuel during the training process learn to operate their machinery with behaviours that maximise fuel efficiency,” the company says. “This type of training can also extend the life of the mining equipment, resulting in less consumption of parts and in higher machine availability.”

David Londoño, Chief Operating Officer at Oceanagold Corporation, said: “The addition of the training simulator aligns with our commitment to providing Haile Gold Mine operators with the best tools and resources. It offers a new dimension to our training approach by allowing us to create real-world conditions while empowering our operators to enhance their skills and make informed decisions in a controlled environment.”

The mine is already seeing benefits from the training solution. Spot times under the shovel have improved 10.08% resulting in greater haulage productivity and the damage from brake system misuse has dropped by 65% resulting in less machine down time, according to Immersive.

Adam Norris, Regional Vice President – North America at Immersive Technologies, said: “The commitment from Haile Gold Mine to invest in their people is now continuing into their underground expansion project. We look forward to supporting them to achieve sustainable results for years to come.”

The drill and blast team at OceanaGold’s Haile gold mine, in South Carolina, recently added remote technology from Epiroc to its blasthole drilling process.

Haile is the first gold mine in the US to use Epiroc’s BenchREMOTE technology for remote control drilling with two of its three Epiroc drills, according to the miner.

“This technology provides many advantages for Haile’s workforce – no strangers to working in sometimes harsh South Carolina environmental conditions of extreme heat, wind, and rain,” the company said.

The BenchREMOTE system enables operators to work from a safe distance in a comfortable environment, handling up to three rigs in parallel. This technology allows the operator station to be placed up to 100 m away and +/- 30 m in elevation with a line of sight to communicate with the drills. Haile purchased two Epiroc D65 drills, BD7 and BD8, in 2019 compatible with this new technology.

“The BenchREMOTE package includes the operator station only, so installation design is determined at the operator’s discretion allowing for a customisable end product,” the company said.

Haile Drill and Blast General Supervisor, Aaron Kash, worked with ATC Trailers to design Haile’s housing, building the remote station into a fully insulated enclosed trailer.

“When we bought the equipment from Epiroc, I reached out to our local ATC trailer dealer and had them bring up the specs of a similar trailer,” Kash said. “We made a few changes – making it a little longer, equipping it with a bigger A/C unit to withstand the heat, and upgraded the generator.”

Safety is a primary concern any time people are present on a drill pattern with remotely operated drills. Communication, situational awareness, preparation, and warning systems are necessary for maintaining safe operation, according to the miner.

“Perhaps the most significant benefit of the remote drills is the potential for increased productivity,” the miner said. “Now one driller can operate up to three machines at a time, increasing utilisation.”

Another safety benefit is that the remote drill can access areas that may be unsuitable for people to access.

“With the development of the new Haile Pit, we are encountering historic workings,” Kash said. “We may want to drill into an area with little cover to see what’s there, but we don’t want to risk putting somebody physically in the drill.”

In 2020, the Haile gold mine is expected to produce between 180,000-190,000 oz of gold.

OceanaGold’s Haile mine boosts productivity with Immersive simulator

OceanaGold’s Haile mine steps up drilling productivity with Epiroc BenchREMOTE