Tag Archives: Solomon Hub

Fortescue and Wintawari establish ‘culturally safe’ JV for Solomon Hub operations

Environmental, Mine operation news, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , ,

Fortescue Metals Group and members of the Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation, the prescribed body corporate for the Eastern Guruma People, have today announced a co-management framework to oversee the development of new mines at Fortescue’s Solomon Hub operations in Western Australia.

Under the framework, Fortescue and members of Wintawari will establish a “culturally safe” mining joint venture to mine the East and West Queens deposits on Eastern Guruma country. The 10-year mine services contract to be awarded to the new joint venture is estimated to be worth over A$500 million ($367 million), making the contract the largest ever awarded to an Aboriginal business by Fortescue.

A working group will be formed to collaboratively work together on all stages of the mine development from heritage and environmental approvals, resource drilling and definition and mine planning to operations and rehabilitation, Fortescue says. The agreement builds on the decade-long relationship between the parties, which was formalised in a Land Access Agreement in December 2009.

Wintawari Chair, Glen Camille, said: “The establishment of this new co-management joint venture represents the next step in our journey with Fortescue. We are glad to work with Andrew Forrest and Fortescue to improve the economic outcomes for Aboriginal people and thank Andrew for his demonstrated commitment.

“Working collaboratively, we will ensure that Eastern Guruma people are active participants in the future development of mines on our country, enabling deeper consultation around the protection of culturally significant sites while building a better future for our people.”

Fortescue Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Gaines, said: “Fortescue is proud of our longstanding relationship with Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation. We are confident that this new collaborative framework will strengthen our ties with the Eastern Guruma People, through the unique opportunity to have a seat at the table to share cultural knowledge and guide the growth of Fortescue’s operations on their country.”

Fortescue Senior Manager Indigenous Communities, Heath Nelson, said: “In line with our approach to ensuring our Native Title Partners benefit from our growth and development, this joint venture will also deliver significant economic opportunities through employment and contracting opportunities.”

Fortescue Chairman and Founder, Dr Andrew Forrest AO, said: “It gives me enormous pride to bear witness to this framework, which will shape a new shared direction for Fortescue and the Eastern Guruma People. Together, we will provide enduring benefit for future generations, while preserving their unique culture and heritage.”

Fortescue hits new automation milestone in the Pilbara

Automation, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , , , , ,

Fortescue Metals Group’s autonomous haulage (AHS) fleet has marked a significant milestone, moving two billion tonnes of material, doubling the amount hauled since reaching the one billion tonne milestone in September 2019.

In 2012, Fortescue was the first in the world to deploy Caterpillar’s AHS technology on a commercial scale at its Solomon Hub operations in the Pilbara of Western Australia and the multi-class fleet has since expanded across the company’s operations with a total of 193 autonomous trucks now in operation.

Fortescue Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Gaines, said: “Fortescue is a leader in the implementation of autonomous haulage across our iron ore operations. Our fleet represents one of the largest in the world, with 79 trucks currently in operation at Solomon, 74 at Christmas Creek and 40 at Cloudbreak. Moving over two billion tonnes of material without a driver at the wheel is a significant milestone and a reflection of Fortescue’s ongoing commitment to increasing operational efficiency through technology and innovation.

“Most importantly, the introduction of AHS technology has led to significant safety improvements for our team members, with our fleet safely travelling over 70 million kilometres to date – the equivalent of 91 return trips to the moon.”

The continued expansion of autonomous capability across the business has demonstrated that autonomy doesn’t need to be at the expense of jobs, with the transition to autonomous haulage providing significant new opportunities for Fortescue’s workforce through the provision of training and redeployment to new roles, Fortescue said.

Gaines added: “Significantly, the adoption of autonomous haulage has allowed us to relocate many traditional site-based roles to our integrated operations centre in Perth, providing opportunities for parents and women in particular to remain engaged in our workforce. Today, almost 50% of our workforce in the Fortescue Hive are women.”

SIMPEC to help Central Systems with Fortescue Solomon Hub work

Mineral project development, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , ,

SIMPEC is to supply and install the electrical, instrumentation and communication works for the Solomon Central Facilities Workshop Yard at Fortescue Metals Group’s Solomon Hub iron ore operations in the Pilbara of Western Australia.

The contract, awarded by Central Systems, is valued at A$7 million ($5.4 million), according to SIMPEC, WestStar Industrial’s engineering contractor business. Work has commenced immediately.

FMG Solomon Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Fortescue, is developing the Solomon Central Facilities Workshop Yard, which involves consolidating various workshops, facilities and other non-process infrastructure into a centralised location. Central Systems was awarded the A$57.5 million design and construct contract for the Central Facilities (picture courtesy of Central Systems) back in October, and SIMPEC will be working with the company on site to supply and install the electrical, instrumentation and communication works for these facilities.

This award, SIMPEC’s first from Central Systems, builds on the portfolio of non-process infrastructure work packages successfully undertaken by SIMPEC across Western Australia and Sydney, New South Wales, the company said.

SIMPEC Managing Director, Mark Dimasi, noted: “To be part of this new development in the non-process infrastructure space on a Fortescue Metals Group project is very rewarding for the team. This large project allows SIMPEC to showcase its true electrical and instrumentation capabilities.”

Fortescue’s Solomon Hub is in the Hamersley Ranges and comprises the Firetail and Kings Valley mines, which together have a production capacity of 75 Mt/y. At the hub, higher iron grade, low cost Firetail ore is blended with low phosphorous Chichester ore to create the company’s Fortescue Blend.

RCR and Primero Group to deliver crushing and conveying system for Fortescue

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RCR Mining Technologies and Primero Group are to work together on delivering a primary crushing plant (PCP) and overland conveyor (OLC) for the Queens project at Fortescue Metals Group’s Solomon Hub operations in the Pilbara of Western Australia.

RCR, a wholly owned subsidiary of NRW Holdings, was awarded the A$80 million ($61.8 million) contract by Fortescue, with Primero being sub-contracted a A$30 million package to provide engineering support and construction services for the PCP and OLC.

RCR previously delivered the Hopper 9 Crushing Facility at Fortescue’s Cloudbreak mine, with the latest award “strategically significant for the business as it showcases our engineering-led delivery of innovative solutions”.

Civil construction and earthworks will be undertaken by NRW’s Civil division, while RCR and DIAB Engineering, together with Primero, “bring a very strong design, manufacture and construction capability to this project with an engineering-led philosophy of solutions and innovation”, NRW said.

NRW Holdings is in the middle of trying to take over Primero following a cash and shares bid that values Primero at A$100 million.

Fortescue completes autonomous haul truck fleet conversion in Western Australia

Automation, IoT, Mine operation news, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fortescue Metals Group says it has completed its Chichester Hub autonomous haulage project, with 183 trucks now operating in AHS mode across its Solomon and Chichester Hubs, in Western Australia.

The project represents one of the largest fleet conversions to autonomous haulage systems (AHS) in the industry. It was aided by the involvement of Thiess.

The multi-class fleet includes Cat 793F, 789D and Komatsu 930E haul trucks and has safely travelled more than 52 million km and moved 1,500 Mt of material since 2013, according to FMG. An additional 900 assets, such as excavators, wheel loaders and light vehicles, are integrated with the autonomous fleet using Cat MineStar Command for hauling technology, which is operated from the Fortescue Hive, the company’s integrated operations centre in Perth, Western Australia.

Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Gaines said, “Mining is one of the most innovative industries in the world, and Fortescue continues to build on our leading autonomy capability to deliver productivity and efficiency benefits.

“Most importantly, the introduction of AHS technology has improved safety outcomes across our operations and we’re very pleased that the team achieved this important milestone in the truck conversion program to the highest safety standards.

“Our approach to autonomy has been to be open and transparent with our plans and to work closely with our team members to offer opportunities for re-training and re-deployment. Around 3,000 Fortescue team members have been trained to work with autonomous haulage, including over 200 people trained as Mine Controllers and AHS system professionals.”

Group President, Resource Industries, Caterpillar Inc, Denise Johnson, said: “Fortescue is a leader in the implementation of autonomous solutions. This important milestone further reinforces the transformation Fortescue has made with autonomy to improve safety, site productivity and machine utilisation. We congratulate Fortescue on this significant achievement.”

Fortescue Chief Operating Officer, Greg Lilleyman, said: “Fortescue’s autonomous haulage fleet has delivered a 30% increase in productivity. Looking ahead, the flexibility of our efficient, multi-class autonomous fleet offers considerable potential for further productivity and efficiency gains.

“Our operations are more connected than ever before and, by using data from our autonomous haulage fleet, we can paint an accurate picture of our operations and focus on the optimal opportunities for improvement, such as haul road design and maintenance scheduling.

“Our autonomous haulage system is a foundational tool which allows us to streamline processes and improve outcomes, ultimately delivering increased value for our shareholders.”

JSW Australia enlists help of BBurg for customised drill rig development

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Drill contractor JSW Australia says it has formed a strategic alliance with German drill rig manufacturer BBurg to develop customised drill rigs specifically suited to local conditions.

The partnership with BBurg also supports the ongoing evolution of the JSW fleet, the company said.

The first product of the new alliance is the HD2500RC, a leading technology rig developed to tackle challenging terrain at the Fortescue Metals Group Solomon Hub site in the Pilbara of Western Australia (pictured), JSW said. The first rig is expected to be deployed on site early next year with a second planned for delivery later in the first half of 2020.

JSW CEO, Jeff Branson, said: “The terrain at Solomon makes the preparation of drill pads difficult and expensive, which created an opportunity for a high powered, small footprint drill rig. With many years of experience working at the Solomon site and having experienced the challenges posed by the terrain, we shared ideas and concepts with BBurg, which provided the foundation for the development of the new rig.”

Branson added: “BBurg’s knowledge and experience in the development of top hammer and down-the-hole machines for mining applications has enabled us to custom-build a rig that is ideally suited to the site conditions, and we are excited about putting it to work on site.”

The HD2500RC has the following key features:

  • Low footprint with width of 3.5 m;
  • High power with capacity to push 32.3 cu.m/min of air at 500 psi down the hole;
  • Rod handler to increase productivity and improve safety;
  • 330 m of rod capacity on board; and
  • Full wireless remote control.

The alliance with BBurg is part of a broader JSW strategy to ensure that its fleet is continually upgraded and improved to meet the changing needs of the market, the company said.

“BBurg’s customer-driven engineering approach, which tailors rigs to specific applications, resonated with us as it supports our ability to provide customised drilling services to our clients,” he said.

“The HD2500RC is the first of several new rigs that we will be introducing in the near future.

“Our fleet is reviewed and upgraded regularly, and we are excited about the new rigs that will be added, making the latest technology available to our clients and supporting the achievement of their objectives.”