Tag Archives: MaxMine Carbon

MaxMine talks up data-led emission reductions for open-pit mines

Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , ,

MaxMine has been talking up the potential of data in the quest for reducing emissions and boosting productivity at mine sites, with Tom Cawley, Executive Chair and Interim CEO, arguing that there is still plenty of low hanging fruit for mining companies to leverage on their way to achieving longer-term net zero mining targets.

MaxMine, the company says, is an automated, high-resolution data-based business reporting tool that combines advanced data acquisition technology with AI analysis to fully optimise mobile equipment and operator performance within mining and other mobile equipment-based operations, measuring performance differently and using gamification to change behaviours.

According to Cawley, the average open-pit mine can reduce Scope 1 emissions by up to 10-15% by leveraging data, with MaxMine insights enabling this average open-pit mine to improve productivity while also reducing its carbon footprint by around 15,000-20,000 t of CO2.

IM put some questions to Cawley to find out more.

IM: In terms of your expanding product portfolio, where are clients receiving the biggest and potentially quickest return on investments (ROIs) from your solutions?

Tom Cawley, Executive Chair and Interim CEO of MaxMine

TC: MaxMine has the most extensive dataset in the open-cut load and haul mobile mining equipment sector. We continuously collect data from all sensors across 10 original equipment manufacturers or equipment manufacturers. We have around eight million hours of data, enabling MaxMine to provide unique levels of measurement in the mining sector and equip us with an unparalleled range of potential applications. This enables us to cover a broad scope across all mines while delivering tailored solutions to our clients, depending on their requirements from site to site.

The areas of the highest value proposition for our clients include improved TMM (total material moved) by increased payload, reduced cycle times via driver feedback, improved haul road conditions, enhanced safety and faster incident investigations. Cost reductions are delivered by reduced queueing, off-haul travel, idle time, and improved tyre life. High-resolution data is used to measure the performance of and diagnose mining trucks delivering greater efficiency via engine performance improvements and increased availability via predictive analytics and faster fault resolution.

IM: Although you have a specific product focused on decarbonisation (MaxMine Carbon), would you say the majority of your solutions are providing emission reduction benefits? In terms of adding new clients, is this where a lot of the emphasis is?

TC: Yes, there is a strong correlation between productivity and fuel intensity reduction. The better productivity, the better the carbon intensity.

MaxMine Carbon enables mine sites to measure fuel burn on every asset, every second of the day. MaxMine’s high resolution data allows the difference between business as usual and improved operations to be measured, allowing the fuel saved to be included in the productivity benefits.

MaxMine’s high resolution data is used to:

  • Measure actual truck performance, identify trucks operating below design efficiency and provide diagnostic information; and
  • Provide granular feedback to drivers, which can be used to reduce fuel burn.

MaxMine Carbon isn’t only a separate fuel-saving feature; its capability allows open-cut mining companies to measure, manage and reduce their carbon footprint associated with Scope 1 diesel emissions and reduce operating costs related to diesel consumption.

IM: Where is the development of MaxMine Carbon for underground mining? What timelines do you have around the development and rollout of this solution?

TC: Open-cut mining is a large sector and offers significant opportunities for growth. It is much more energy-intensive at the equipment level compared with underground mining.

MaxMine is growing robustly in this area, and we’ll continue focusing on further penetration in the open-cut mining space in the near and medium term.

IM: Is your market proposition stronger at bulk mining operations than others?

TC: Our market is focused on open cut-mining and larger-size trucks, with a size class greater than 100 t.

IM: Outside of your existing portfolio, where do you see room for growth with different solutions? Are you actively engaged in pursuing such opportunities?

TC: We continue to focus and remain disciplined on our core markets, and our unique selling proposition delivers huge opportunities for MaxMine and the open-cut mining industry.

MaxMine Carbon seeks to cut emissions at open-pit mining operations

Environmental, Mining industry recognition, Mining services, Mining software, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , ,

MaxMine has announced the official launch of ‘MaxMine Carbon’, a technology offering that, it says, will enable mining operators to reduce their carbon emissions by more than 10% for no, or limited, additional capital expenditure.

The MaxMine Carbon offering was unveiled last week at the annual Rotto Tech Fest, as part of the West Tech Fest, held on Rottnest Island in Western Australia.

MaxMine Carbon is a mining productivity tool which captures, processes and analyses vast amounts of data, then translates that data into pragmatic solutions for clients that deliver significant carbon emissions reductions and productivity gains at open-pit mining operations, specifically in load and haul operations, the company explained.

The technology platform harnesses cutting-edge automation capabilities and advanced data analytics to capture up to 10,000 times more data at open-pit mining operations, relative to the industry standard fleet management system products, according to MaxMine.

During extensive trials of MaxMine Carbon at various open-pit mining operations, miners were able to accomplish an average minimum carbon emissions reduction of 10% within just one month. This is the equivalent to replacing more than four trucks in a fleet of 40, with zero-emissions vehicles, for zero capital expenditure, the company estimated.

MaxMine Carbon also allows companies to quantify their carbon emission savings for inclusion in ESG and sustainability reports.

Furthermore, miners experienced an average payload increase of 7% at the operations where the MaxMine Carbon beta product was implemented.

This additional production output, while using the same resources, also translates into significant cost savings and efficiencies for the mine site operators.

“In fact, from a client perspective, MaxMine Carbon is on average expected to pay for itself in just 12 weeks from fuel savings alone, and, coupled with the broader MaxMine suite, this figure drops to six weeks,” the company said.

MaxMine Chief Executive Officer, Coert Du Plessis, said the company’s new offering provides resources companies with a cost-effective solution to achieve emissions reduction targets, as regulators, investors and the broader community increasingly focus on reaching a net zero emissions world.

“Emerging renewable energy solutions for miners that are commercially viable remain at least 5-10 years away, but many mining operators have emissions reductions targets to meet in the short term and medium term,” Du Plessis said.

“This is where MaxMine comes in, as a revolutionary technology offering that can overcome this challenge by empowering miners to reduce their carbon emissions right now and also potentially boost their bottom line. It also enables miners to quantify their carbon emissions reductions.

“Net zero mining starts here.”

The launch of MaxMine Carbon coincides with MaxMine being crowned a winner at the Extreme Tech Challenge Australia last week for its data analytics proficiency and work on MaxMine Carbon.

Since its inception in 2015 in Adelaide, MaxMine has grown from five to 50 people, and expanded its corporate presence to also encompass Perth, Brisbane and Sydney in Australia, as well as Pretoria and Cape Town in South Africa, with further international expansion planned.

Over the past five years MaxMine has achieved revenue growth of between 70-100%/y.

Du Plessis said MaxMine Carbon would underpin sustained growth for the company.

“The demand for tangible solutions for miners to meet ESG criteria is growing by the day, with the cost of capital for miners with the lowest ESG scores up 20-25% higher than those with high ESG scores, so we anticipate strong uptake of our new product,” he said.