Hexagon’s Mining division says it has deployed a fleet management and safety implementation project with Minera San Cristóbal S.A. for the mining company’s open-pit operations in Bolivia.
As part of this project, Hexagon deployed 65 HxGN MineOperate OP Pro systems, nearly 40 HxGN MineProtect Collision Avoidance Systems (CAS) and 30 HxGN MineProtect Operator Alertness Systems (OAS) to the San Cristóbal operations in Lipez, Potosí Department.
The San Cristóbal mine, one of the largest zinc, lead and silver deposits in the world, features low-grade mineralisation in vast volume, the company says. It produces zinc-silver and lead-silver concentrates, and is currently the largest mining operation in Bolivia. It also boasts the title of the sixth largest producer of zinc in the world and the fourth largest producer of silver in the world.
Minera San Cristóbal is familiar with Hexagon’s Mining division’s solutions, as it already uses HxGN MinePlan’s Engineering and Geoscience suites for 3D geological modelling, mine design, and production planning at the San Cristóbal mine. Deployment of HxGN MineOperate and MineProtect solutions was completed in the June quarter of 2023.
“We pride ourselves on carrying out our operations with the use of state-of-the-art technology like Hexagon’s mining solutions,” Luis Escamilla, Mine Manager of Minera San Cristóbal S.A, said. “Alongside the qualifications of our workers, we put a strict focus on health and safety, the preservation of the environment and the sustainable development of communities.”
Ricardo Gutierrez, Senior Managing Director of EMEA & previous General Manager of Mexico for Hexagon’s Mining division, said:“We are excited to expand our relationship with Minera San Cristóbal and we appreciate that they are including their workers’ safety in their digital transformation journey. The implementation of our fleet management system will allow insight into valuable data they have been wanting so as to gain in operational efficiencies, including the ability to visualise ore and waste polygons, as well as dig lines to truly see mining progress.”
MineOperate OP Pro, Hexagon’s Mining division says, offers open-pit mines high-precision guidance for dozers, drills and loading equipment, and low-precision guidance for haul trucks, primary vehicles and auxiliary equipment. OP Pro improves bench elevations, reduces dilution and decreases rework to improve site safety, efficiency and profitability. OP Pro was installed on wheel loaders, hydraulic shovels, drills, haul trucks, primary vehicles and auxiliary equipment.
Hexagon’s CAS is being deployed on haul trucks to reduce speed-related incidents and on hydraulic shovels and bulldozers to reduce the number of incidents between them. It offers protection to mining vehicle operators, vehicles and assets via a smart antenna and an unobtrusive cabin display unit, according to the company. The system reduces the risk of collisions by alerting vehicle operators to equipment and vehicles up to 500 m away without a direct line of sight.
The MineProtect OAS is an integrated fatigue and distraction management solution that, the company says, helps keep operators of heavy and light vehicles safer by alerting them to micro sleep, fatigue, or distraction events. Both the CAS and OAS systems will help keep drivers and operators safer while working in the mine.