Tag Archives: Trans-Baikal Territory

MegaFon deploys Private LTE network at Udokan MMP

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At the request of Udokan Copper, MegaFon has designed and built an industrial wireless LTE (pLTE, Private LTE) network of six base stations and set up redundant communication channels at the Udokan Mining and Metallurgical Plant (MMP).

The infrastructure provides coverage across the whole site with both 4G and Private LTE, according to the company.

The main difference between a private LTE and a public network is the presence of a pLTE core deployed in the corporate data centre and linked to the corporate network. Unlike Wi-Fi networks, the Private LTE standard has immunity to interference, meets all modern information security requirements and enables coverage to be scaled up faster and at a lower cost, Udokan Copper says. The solution creates a shared, stable, closed data environment, which is essential for mining and industrial companies.

The pLTE network will cover the entire site, from the open pit to the concentrator and smelter of the future mining and metallurgical plant, to deliver reliable communication for employees and help automate a number of processes. In particular, Private LTE will facilitate automated control of Udokan Copper’s mining machinery fleet, including the monitoring of machinery and equipment performance along with materials and fuel consumption. What’s more, the solution contributes to workplace safety, including the safety of drilling and blasting operations, Udokan Copper says.

According to Udokan Copper CEO, Alexey Yaschuk, the solution ensures highly effective soil thermometry, permafrost monitoring and control of process parameters in energy systems, while also allowing for continuous wireless video surveillance in line with top security standards.

“Going forward, we will roll out the system to the second stage of the Udokan MMP and a number of auxiliary infrastructure facilities, in particular a railroad storage facility,” he noted.

Natalya Taldykina, Head of Corporate Business Development at MegaFon, said: “This is the first private industrial network in the Trans-Baikal Territory. Large companies increasingly opt for Private LTE to set up internal processes thanks to its high reliability, security and a strong digitalisation potential. The private network for Udokan Copper relies on domestically sourced equipment which enables us to make quick adjustments to meet production needs,”

Established to develop the Udokan Copper Deposit, Udokan Copper is part of the diversified USM Group founded by Alisher Usmanov. Udokan is a large undeveloped copper deposit with JORC copper resources of 26.7 Mt at 1.05% Cu.

Nornickel targets safety boost at Bystrinsky GOK with collision avoidance tech

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Norilsk Nickel’s Bystrinsky GOK operation in the Trans-Baikal Territory of Russia has been testing a collision avoidance system from V2-Group with the aim of improving safety and avoiding haul road accidents at the open-pit gold-iron-copper mine.

Bystrinsky GOK, which consists of a mining operation and processing plant, is home to the Bystrinsky gold-iron-copper deposit. This deposit contained some 343 Mt of reserves when the mine started up in 2017.

Collision avoidance sensors from V2-Group have been installed on one Komatsu PC4000 excavator and two Caterpillar 789D mining trucks at the open-pit operation, Nornickel confirmed. The company has also employed a V2-Group dispatch system at the mine.

A Nornickel spokesperson said testing of the system started in November 2020, with the company currently looking at trialling collision avoidance equipment from other vendors as part of its due diligence process.

“A collision avoidance system should be operational around-the-clock without fail even in the most difficult weather conditions,” the spokesperson said. “It should have the capacity to adjust its parameters depending on the dimensions of various equipment and situations encountered in the pit, on the dump, and while moving between mines.”

The testing represents a step towards helping the company meet one of its key priorities in the operation of the “largest mining and processing plant in the Trans-Baikal Territory – that of ensuring safety, especially when working with mining equipment”, the spokesperson added.

The mining operation has already implemented a range of measures, including IT projects, to ensure safety of personnel, industrial safety and road safety. Last year, it tested a fatigue detection system, which quickly detects everything from episodes of driver microsleep to distractions on the road, as well as an intelligent control system.

Should testing of the collision avoidance systems prove successful, Nornickel expects to rollout the equipment on all mining and auxiliary vehicles, the spokesperson concluded.