Tag Archives: Western Australia

Iluka Cataby contract pushes Pentium Hydro drilling capacity over the line

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Vysarn Limited subsidiary, Pentium Hydro, is to carry out drilling of dewatering wells at Iluka’s Cataby mine site in Western Australia following the award of a contract with Iluka Resources.

The Goods and Services contract is a variation to the original award of drilling services by Iluka back in January 2020.

The contract has an estimated value of A$1.74 million ($1.31 million) and, based on the current scope, is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. Pentium plans to mobilise to site next month.

Vysarn Managing Director, James Clement, said: “Of note, this work now provides a contract pipeline exceeding the capacity of Pentium’s current fleet of 12 rigs in the first half of the 2022 financial year. Management intend to lease or enter into hire purchase arrangements to execute the work in hand with additional drill rigs.”

Metso Outotec, Mineral Resources deliver the next generation of crushing

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What will crushing plants of the future look like? Mineral Resources Ltd and Metso Outotec have pondered that question and have since gone on to answer it with the delivery of a modular, scalable and relocatable plant at an iron ore operation owned by one of the world’s biggest miners.

Called ‘NextGen II’, the solution represents a ground-breaking approach to delivering safe and reliable production to the hard-rock crushing industry, Mike Grey, Chief Executive of Mining Services for Mineral Resources, says.

And it all started with a test for one of the company’s most technically minded individuals.

“We were sitting around the boardroom table with David De Haas, one of our key engineers on this project, and gave him the challenge to come up with a crushing plant that we could literally relocate anywhere very quickly, build on a very small footprint, and have it plug and play,” Grey told IM in a recent IM Insight Interview.

Mineral Resources, which counts CSI Mining Services (CSI) as a wholly-owned subsidiary, was in a unique position to deliver on this.

A provider of world-class tailored crushing, screening and processing solutions for some of the world’s largest mining companies, CSI specialises in build, own, operate (BOO) projects where it provides both the capital infrastructure and the operational expertise to ensure these crushing plants operate to their potential on site.

It carries out crushing services for Mineral Resources’ own mines, as well others across the mining sector.

Crushing collaboration

When offering such ‘crushing as a service’ type of contracts, the service must be underpinned by the best equipment possible.

Enter Metso Outotec.

Having initially commenced discussions with the global OEM in early 2019 (when it was still Metso), Mineral Resources, later that year, agreed with Metso on the design and delivery of a new type of crushing solution.

The pair recognised early on in these conversations that the industry was changing and they, as service and solution providers, needed to change with it.

The largest bulk commodity operations in the world are made up of multiple pits that get mined over time. As these operations expand, miners are left with a dilemma: extend the haulage time from the pit to the plant or build another plant.

The NextGen II crushing plant has provided a third option.

(Credit: Mineral Resources Ltd)

De Haas, collaborating with Metso Outotec, has delivered on the board’s brief with the design for a crushing plant able to produce 15 Mt/y using a modular design made up of several stations. The plant can move with the mining, being erected and taken down quickly without the type of in-ground services that can scupper such moves.

The first plant delivered under this collaboration is now operating in the Pilbara at a very well-known iron ore operation.

Customised crushing

Guillaume Lambert, Vice President of Crushing for Metso Outotec, provided some specifics.

“The NextGen II is a crushing and screening plant to crush iron ore and produce lump and fine products,” he said in the IM Insight Interview. “The process starts with a primary station made up of a Metso Outotec apron feeder (below left), followed by a vibrating grizzly scalper.” Then starts the size reduction process with a Nordberg C150 jaw crusher (below middle).

From this primary station, the ore goes to three secondary crushing stations, each comprised of an MF3072 banana screen (below right) and Nordberg HP400 cone crusher.

(Credit: Metso Outotec)

Fines and lump are the products from this secondary station, with the oversize arranged in close circuit with the screen, Lambert said.

The screen was designed specifically for the project – offering the compact dimensions that could fit inside the station’s footprint. Other customised add-ons included specialised cooling rooms for the lubrication units and extensive steel fabrication works.

Lambert added: “Really, the tailoring of design is around the modularity of the different stations. Each station is made up of several modules. All those modules can be pre-assembled and tested in a factory and transported by road to the site. This has been established to enable a fast erection process.”

This turned out to be the case with the very first NextGen II installation.

Despite a timeline setback caused by the global pandemic, the 1,500 t of steel needed for the plant construction was built in 16 weeks, starting in March 2020 and ready by July 25 of that year. It was shipped to CSI’s Kwinana facility in Western Australia for pre-assembly before delivery to site.

Final commissioning took place in early 2021, and the crusher has been working well since.

(Credit: Mineral Resources Ltd)

R U OK?

A distinctive blue colour, the plant reflects Mineral Resources’ commitment to mental health awareness and support, carrying the phone number and colour of Lifeline, a Western Australia-based charity formed to prevent suicide, support people in crisis and reduce the stigmas which can be a barrier to seeking help.

“It is really important for us to promote mental health; our fly-in fly-out workforce has matured over some years, but the challenges around working remotely remain,” Grey said. “It is important that we demonstrate we have the support mechanisms in place to support our workers and their families.

“The NextGen II plant is at the forefront of that – it is the first thing people see when they come to work and the last thing they see when going home. They can always reflect and make sure their work mates are OK.”

(Credit: Mineral Resources Ltd)

Support and service

The plant’s operating success has been helped by a local service and support network from both companies, with Metso Outotec providing critical spares and all large “rotable refurbishments” serviced by CSI’s Kwinana facility.

This is underwritten by a remote condition monitoring service that can see personnel and parts from both companies deployed to site at a moment’s notice.

This comprehensive offering has seen close collaboration between Metso Outotec’s Minerals (capital equipment) business, Service business and MRL’s own service team.

Understanding the challenges and potential delays for parts deliveries due to MRL’s remote location, the companies agreed to a specific consignment inventory close to the site to ensure parts availability and exclusivity for MRL to better support the operation.

In addition, a Metso Outotec service expert is present for maintenance and shutdown events to provide expertise and support to the MRL maintenance team.

Grey and Lambert said the collaboration has been a win-win for both companies.

“Working with Metso Outotec on this project has allowed us to define the scope together, rather than remotely,” Grey reflected. “That allows us to ensure we deliver to the timelines and then make any necessary changes on the run, hand-in-hand. We deliver the solution together.”

Lambert added: “Metso Outotec is an indisputable leader in crushing and screening technology, as well as plant. However, working with MRL, we learned a lot about improving the design of our station to maximise safety and improve accessibility in a very, very compact environment for high-capacity plant.”

In demand

This is unlikely to be the first and last next generation crushing plant to come out of the OEM/service provider collaboration.

While iron ore was the commodity of choice for the first installation, Lambert said there was potential for these types of plants featuring in base and precious metal operations.

“The NextGen II plant is very flexible,” he said. “Each station is individually plugged into the solution, and we can easily upgrade the crusher, the screen, etc throughout the year depending on capacity needs.”

Adding or removing some stations could see the throughput reduced or increased, with Lambert even talking about the ability to construct a 30 Mt/y plant that can be built, erected and relocated in the same way as the first 15 Mt/y plant.

“In addition, NextGen II, today, is designed for iron ore applications with lump and fine products,” he said. “If we want, we can add a tertiary crushing stage in order to produce only fines for iron ore. This can match with copper and gold operations also.”

There are plenty of gold miners extracting ore from multiple pits that could provide a strong business case for the installation of such a plant. Similarly, there is potential for this working at major open-pit copper mines.

Lambert concluded: “There is, for sure, global demand for modular crushing plants. Today, having a fast and safe erection process is a must in many countries and locations. In addition, we have more and more short-term operations emerging in very remote locations, so having the possibility to minimise civil works is key for a lot of our customers.”

To watch the full IM Insight Interview on ‘Mining’s next generation of crushing solutions’, click here.

Strike Resources adds Dynamic Drill and Blast, Lucas TCS to Paulsens East team

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Strike Resources, after an extensive evaluation, has entered into Early Contractor Involvement Services Agreements with the preferred contractors to provide drill and blast, mining, crushing and screening services and civil works (including the haulage road and mine site) for its Paulsens East iron ore mine in Western Australia.

Dynamic Drill and Blast has been selected for the provision of drill and blast services, and Lucas Total Contract Solutions has been selected for the provision of mining, crushing and screening services, plus the civil works required for Paulsens East, including construction of the 18 km haulage road (from the mine site to Nanutarra Road), establishment of the Mining Operations Centre (MOC) and siteworks for the mining village.

Strike, which is developing a 1.5 Mt/y direct shipping iron ore operation, says it is working with both parties to finalise the detailed scope of services, schedules and formal contractual terms of engagement.

Dynamic, who worked with Strike to plan, licence and develop magazine and explosives storage facilities for the project in consultation with the Department of Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety (DMIRS), said the contract is estimated to have a four-year initial term.

On top of this, Strike said the final objection on its proposed haulage road, Miscellaneous Licence (ML) L47/934, has now been withdrawn after the execution of an Access Deed with the underlying tenement holder. With the execution of this deed, the last outstanding ML related to Paulsens East is expected to be granted by DMIRS during the next two-to-four weeks.

“Once L47/934 is granted, and subject to DMIRS having no further issues with any technical or environmental aspects of the Mining Proposal, DMIRS is expected to approve the Mining Proposal for Paulsens East shortly thereafter,” the company said.

Strike also recently made an investment in acquiring a second-hand ore sorter, ancillary materials handling and control room equipment, together with conveyors that were recently sold at auction, resulting in a significant saving in project capital costs at Paulsens East.

“Strike is planning to use specialised ore sorters as part of its processing flowsheet, to assist with the optimisation of the production of high-grade lump ore from the mine,” it said. “To deliver the required throughput for the mine, a total of up to three ore sorters will be required.”

Further long-lead items secured include an order for 13 Ultra Quad Road Trains (comprising 13 prime movers and 52 trailers) for exclusive use on Paulsens East.

On the communications side, Strike has now entered into a contract with Telstra to commence works on establishing suitable communications infrastructure for the mine site and village. Due to the remote location, a dedicated microwave tower on site is required together with associated voice and data equipment. The construction of the tower and provisioning of the service will be critical for safe and effective communications during the construction and operational phase of the mine.

William Johnson, Managing Director for Strike, said: “With Campbells Transport already selected as its preferred haulage contractor, the company has now selected all of its key contractors for Paulsens East. The securing of further long lead time items together with the ore sorter and associated equipment are important steps as the company advances towards making a final investment decision on Paulsens East.”

Monadelphous Group banks engineering work with BHP, Rio and Codelco

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Monadelphous Group Ltd has secured several new construction and maintenance contracts in the resources sector totalling around A$215 million ($163 million).

Included within this slate of new work is a contract for smelter campaign maintenance works at the BHP owned Olympic Dam copper mine in South Australia. Monadelphous said work will commence immediately and is expected to be completed in December 2021.

Monadelphous has also been awarded a two-year extension to its existing maintenance services contract at Olympic Dam. The contract scope includes civil, structural, mechanical, building maintenance and electrical services, as well as the addition of underground rail maintenance services.

In the iron ore sector in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, Monadelphous has been awarded several contracts, including several sustaining capital contracts under its panel agreements with BHP and Rio Tinto; and a contract with Rio for the provision of construction and support services associated with the Gudai-Darri iron ore project, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

In Chile, the company’s maintenance and construction services business, Buildtek, has secured a number of new contracts, including a three-year contract with Codelco for the operations and maintenance of water infrastructure at the Chuquicamata underground mine in Calama. Buildtek has been providing these services on this site since 2018.

In addition, the engineering company has secured two new contracts with Codelco for maintenance activities associated with the concentrator plant at El Teniente mine in Rancagua; and a contract with BHP Minera Escondida for the construction of modularised pump stations and associated infrastructure of the Escondida copper mine in Coloso.

Finally, Monadelphous, in collaboration with global heavy lifting services company Fagioli, has secured a contract with NMT International (Australia) to deliver specialist heavy lifting and haulage services at the Iron Bridge magnetite project, a joint venture between Fortescue Metals Group subsidiary FMG Magnetite Pty Ltd and Formosa Steel IB. The strategic collaboration with Fagioli enables Monadelphous’ specialist Heavy Lift business to increase capacity and broaden capability for the Australian resources and energy markets, it said.

Hybrid Systems Australia and LAVO to trial hydrogen energy storage at Kewdale

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Hybrid Systems Australia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to determine and trial applications of LAVO’s hydrogen energy technology at its Kewdale facilities in Western Australia.

Hybrid Systems Australia, a subsidiary of Pacific Energy, specialises in the design, construction and installation of integrated hybrid systems, incorporating the use of solar photovoltaic, battery storage and backup, reciprocating gas and diesel generation, suitable for remote off-grid applications such as mine sites.

LAVO claims to have the first and only commercial-ready hydrogen energy storage system in the world designed for everyday use by residential homes and businesses, called the LAVO system. This system is designed to be easily integrated with existing solar panel infrastructure, with the company exploring further applications for its patented metal hydride solution. One potential application is already being explored at Macarthur Minerals Ltd’s Lake Giles iron ore project in Western Australia.

Under the MoU, LAVO will work closely with HSA to trial and test the application of hydrogen as an energy source using LAVO’s product offering at the Kewdale facility. As the first of its kind trial in Western Australia, it will test the applicability of incorporating LAVO’s products into HSA’s suite of products in the longer term, the companies said.

The demonstration project is expected to commence in July, extending the reach of LAVO’s existing demonstration projects across Australia.

Alan Yu, CEO and Executive Director of LAVO, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Hybrid Systems Australia on the development of the Western Australia LAVO demonstration project. With its commitment to supporting the shift to a greener future through alternative energy technologies, HSA’s vision for a renewable energy future amplifies our own ambitious sustainability agenda.

“Our industry partnerships continue to demonstrate the applicability of, and market interest in, LAVO’s hydrogen energy storage solutions and we look forward to developing a longer-term strategy alongside HSA as it commits to developing Western Australia as a centre for renewable hydrogen.”

Mike Hall, a Director of Hybrid Systems Australia, added: “Our investment in the development of ground-breaking projects like Denham, and our recent investment in Standalone Power Systems (SPS), has been driven by a nationwide demand for getting reliable power to remote customers using renewable energy solutions. We are excited at the opportunity to merge our experience and capabilities in hybrid power generation in conjunction with the LAVO technology and see many and varied applications for how we would use it.”

Red 5 formalises KOTH contract mining pact with Macmahon

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Red 5 Ltd has awarded the King of the Hills (KOTH) mining services contract to Macmahon Contractors Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of civil and mining contractor Macmahon Holdings.

The contract award follows the completion of a thorough competitive tender process in late 2020 for the open-pit and underground mine contracts and encompasses the combined mining operations at KOTH, in Western Australia, Red 5 said.

Red 5 signed a Letter of Intent with Macmahon for the mining contract in March and, following the finalisation of contract terms, has now formally awarded the contract. The contractual terms are in line with the mining unit costs outlined in the KOTH Final Feasibility Study (FFS).

This study outlined a 16-year life of mine plan from open-pit and underground mining, whereby the company would produce 176,000 oz/y of gold over the first six years, with an initial five years of underground mining. First gold is scheduled in the June quarter of 2022.

The mining services contract is for an initial five-year period, with industry-standard incentives and penalties for mining contractor performance.

Red 5 Managing Director, Mark Williams, said the formal award of the contract to Macmahon is a significant milestone for the project.

“We’re pleased to have finalised agreed contract terms with Macmahon and formally appointed them as our open-pit and underground mining contractor,” he said. “Macmahon is one of the strongest mining contractors in the market, and we are looking forward to partnering with them to deliver Australia’s next significant new gold mine.

“Importantly, the contract terms are in line with the mining unit costs outlined in the KOTH FFS. Operational efficiencies and cost benefits have been realised in having both mining operations managed by a single contractor.

“Given the current tightness in the labour market in Western Australia’s mining sector, we believe Macmahon is well placed to secure the skilled resources required to operate the underground and open pit mines at KOTH.”

Sandvik ‘streamlines’ logistics process in Western Australia

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Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions looks set to provide Australian customers with a more efficient service after announcing the establishment of a new “state-of-the-art warehouse” in Perth, Western Australia.

The long-term lease for the purpose-built warehouse will help consolidate Sandvik’s Perth operations, with the new facility, to be completed in September, located at Roe Highway Logistics park, alongside a purpose-built workshop that is set to become fully operational early next  year.

Relocating both warehousing and workshop operations to Roe Highway Logistics Park will streamline Sandvik’s logistics process and allow it to better service Western Australia customers, the company said.

The warehouse will span 10,500 sq.m with an additional 3,500 sq.m of covered outdoor storage, supporting all-weather operations and better product protection.

According to Niels Reuvers, Sandvik Logistics Operations Manager in APAC, the purpose-built design of the new warehouse will result in numerous operational efficiencies, as well as an opportunity to further sustainability initiatives and ensure ongoing compliance with recently obtained Australian Trusted Trader accreditation.

“We are aiming to streamline our operations through just-in-time delivery, faster in-bound processing and a higher level of dispatch accuracy due to warehouse automation,” Reuvers said. “In addition, we are introducing new battery technology for the site and our materials handling system to make better use of the solar power we will be generating.”

Proximity to Perth Airport and transport providers, along with access to major arterial roads and proximity to customers, are among the factors that have attracted Sandvik to the Roe Highway Logistics Park.

Kate Bills, Sustainable Business, Marketing & Communications Manager at Sandvik in APAC, says Sandvik is committed to working towards achieving its long-term sustainability goals for 2030, with the purpose-built warehouse incorporating numerous sustainability features.

“We’re aiming to halve our C02 footprint by 2030, so the new warehouse incorporates state-of-the-art design elements to help us achieve this such as solar panels, green concrete and the use of low carbon building materials,” she said.

The site will also include best practice water management, energy efficient lighting, natural ventilation, and rainwater harvesting.

“For Sandvik, as an engineering company with a strong base in research and development, sustainability is a major business opportunity,” Bills said. “When we develop more efficient, safer, and more environmentally sound solutions, we take an important step alongside our customers and suppliers towards a more sustainable future.”

She added: “We’re excited to position ourselves at the Roe Highway Logistics Park, which will achieve carbon neutrality on development, making it Perth’s leading sustainable industrial estate.”

Insig Tech and Ampcontrol broaden Western Australia service offering

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Insig Technologies says it is partnering with the Ampcontrol Group of Companies to establish a service centre in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, to support, repair and service Ampcontrol products for the Western Australia market.

Insig Technologies will also be a distributor for the Ampcontrol multifunction outlet starter, Rockstarter, for underground hard-rock mining, tunnelling and other industrial applications.

In late May, Insig Technologies and Ampcontrol signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the foundation for the partnership and have now advanced the new association to service market and customer needs.

“We believe the partnership will further enhance Insig Technologies offerings in the underground mining electrical services domain and provide a one-stop-shop for Ampcontrol customers in Western Australia,” Insig said. “We look forward to working with existing and new Ampcontrol customers under this new partnership arrangement.”

Ampcontrol says its Rockstarter is a multifunction outlet starter that, compared with traditional starters, has been custom engineered, designed and built for specific applications. It controls a single power outlet, rated up to 250 A/1.1 kV and incorporates an integrally designed circuit breaker, contactor and all protection electronics into a single unit.

“The versatile unit can be re-used for a wide range of applications, including all normal pump, fan and drill rig applications,” the company said. “The Rockstarter can also be scaled to suit specific applications, allowing multiple units to be connected in a series to supply all active operations in an area.”

NRW in line for A$702 million Karara Mining iron ore gig

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NRW has received a letter of intent from Karara Mining Ltd to carry out mining services works at the Karara iron ore mine in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.

Subject to reaching agreement with Karara, the anticipated value of the contract is around A$702 million ($529 million) over a five-year duration with a project workforce averaging circa-250 personnel.

MACA, through its recently acquired Mining West business, currently holds the contract mining agreement at Karara.

The works to be performed include load and haul, drill and blast, and run of mine re-handling. The drill and blast component will be undertaken by NRW’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Action Drill & Blast Pty Ltd. In addition, the work includes train loading and re-handling of the product stockpiles together with “miscellaneous day works” at the mine site, camp and access roads.

Karara is the largest mining operation and the first major magnetite mine in the Mid West region. It produces a premium, high-grade concentrate that it exports to steelmakers.

“With an expected mine life of 30-plus years, Karara’s operation includes a large open-pit mine, complex ore processing and beneficiation plant and significant infrastructure and logistics networks,” NRW said.

NRW estimates an equipment capital expenditure of around A$170 million to be progressively spent over the term, which will include the purchase of three 600 t face shovel excavators and a fleet of 220 t trucks.

NRW CEO, Jules Pemberton, said: “With a strong local presence in the area through our Geraldton-based DIAB Engineering business and our mining contract with Gascoyne Resources at the Dalgaranga mine site, we look forward to continuing to support the existing and highly experienced workforce on site through this transition, as well as creating employment opportunities for the Gascoyne region community.”

Karara CEO, Changjiang Zhu, said: “NRW is an established Western Australia-based mining and civil contractor with extensive open-cut mining experience gained through a number of successful mining operations in the state. Offering new prime equipment, NRW has the capability to undertake the entire Karara scope of work comprising a broad range of mining, construction and engineering services.

“We look forward to negotiation of an agreement with NRW and commencement of mining services early next year.”

OZ Minerals wades into uncharted renewables territory at West Musgrave

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You do not get much more remote than OZ Minerals’ West Musgrave copper-nickel project. Located in the Ngaanyatjarra Aboriginal Lands of central Western Australia, it is some 1,300 km northeast of Perth and 1,400 km northwest of Adelaide; near the intersection of the borders between Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. The nearest towns include the Indigenous Communities of Jameson (Mantamaru), 26 km north; Blackstone (Papulankutja), 50 km east; and Warburton (Milyirrtjarra), 110 km west.

This makes the company’s ambition of developing a mine able to produce circa-32,000 t/y of copper and around 26,000 t/y of nickel in concentrates that leverages 100% renewable generation and can conduct ‘zero carbon mining’ even bolder.

OZ Minerals is not taking this challenge on by itself. In addition to multiple consultants and engineering companies engaged in a feasibility study, the company has enlisted the help of ENGIE Impact, the consulting arm of multinational electric utility company ENGIE, to come up with a roadmap that could see it employ renewable technologies to reach its zero ambitions.

“We’re providing an understanding of how they could decarbonise the mine to achieve a net zero end game,” Joshua Martin, Senior Director, Sustainability Solutions APAC, told IM.

While ENGIE Impact is focused solely on the energy requirements side of the equation at West Musgrave, its input will prove crucial to the ultimate sustainability success at West Musgrave.

Having worked with others in the mining space such as Vale’s New Caledonia operations (recently sold to the Prony Resources New Caledonia consortium), Martin says OZ Minerals is being “pretty ambitious” when it comes to decarbonisation.

“Our job is to assess if the renewable base case stacks up for West Musgrave, create multiple decarbonisation pathways for their consideration and look at what technology should be adopted to achieve their overall aims,” he said.

This latter element is particularly important for an off-grid project like West Musgrave, which is unlikely to start producing until around mid-2025 should a positive investment decision follow the upcoming feasibility study.

While solar, wind and battery back-up are all likely to play a role in the power plans at West Musgrave – technologies that are frequently factored into hybrid projects looking to wean themselves off diesel or heavy fuel oil use – more emerging technologies are likely to be factored into a roadmap towards 100% renewable adoption.

“We are developing a series of roadmaps that factor in where we think technologies will be in the future,” Martin said. “These roadmaps come with a series of decision gates where the company will need to take one option at that point in time if they are to pursue that particular decarbonisation pathway.”

These roadmaps utilise ENGIE Impact’s consulting and engineering nous, as well as the consultancy’s PROSUMER software (screenshot below) that is used on any asset-level decarbonisation project roadmap, according to Martin.

“This software was specifically built for that purpose,” Martin said. “There is nothing on the market like this.”

Progress at PFS level

OZ Minerals’ December 2020 prefeasibility study update went some way to mapping out its decarbonisation ambition for West Musgrave, with a 50 MW Power Purchase Agreement that involved hybrid renewables (wind, solar, battery, plus diesel or gas).

The company said in this study: “Modelling has demonstrated that circa 70-80% renewables penetration can be achieved for the site, with the current modelled to be an optimised mix of wind, solar and diesel supported by a battery installation.”

OZ Minerals said there was considerable upside in power cost through matching plant power demand with the availability of renewable supply (load scheduling), haulage electrification to maximise the proportion of renewable energy used, and the continued improvement in the efficiency of renewable energy solutions.

ENGIE Impact’s view on hydrogen and electric haulage in the pit may be considered here, complemented by the preliminary results coming out of the Electric Mine Consortium, a collaborative mine electrification project OZ Minerals is taking part in with other miners such as Evolution Mining, South32, Gold Fields and IGO. And, on the non-electric pathway, ENGIE Impact’s opinion is being informed by a study it is undertaking in collaboration with Anglo American on developing a “hydrogen valley” in South Africa.

If OZ Minerals’ early technology views are anything to go by, it is willing to take some risk when it comes to adopting new technology.

The preliminary flowsheet in the prefeasibility study factored in a significant reduction in carbon emissions and power demand through the adoption of vertical roller mills (VRMs) as the grinding mill solution, and a flotation component that achieves metal recovery at a much coarser grind size than was previously considered in the design.

Loesche is working with OZ Minerals on the VRM side, and Woodgrove’s Direct Flotation Reactors got a shout out in the process flowsheet.

While mining at West Musgrave is modelled to be conventional drill, blast, load and haul, the haulage fleet will comprise up to 25, 220 t haul trucks, with optionality being maintained to allow for these trucks to be fully autonomous in the future, OZ Minerals said.

‘True’ zero miners

OZ Minerals is aware of the statement it would make to industry if it were to power all this technology from renewable sources.

“With a future focus on developing a roadmap to 100% renewable generation, and reducing dependency upon fossil fuels over time, West Musgrave will become one of the largest fully off-grid, renewable powered mines in the world,” it said in the updated PFS. “The solution would result in the avoidance of in excess of 220,000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide emissions compared to a fully diesel-powered operation.”

The company’s Hybrid Energy Plant at Carrapateena in South Australia, whose initial setup includes solar PV, battery storage, diesel generation and a micro-grid controller, will provide a test case for this. This is a “unique facility designed to host experiments on how various equipment and energy technologies interact on an operating mine site”, the company says.

Martin and ENGIE Impact agree OZ Minerals is one of many forward-thinking mining companies striving for zero operations with a serious decarbonisation plan.

“The mining projects we are working on are all looking to achieve ‘true’ net zero operations, factoring in no offsets,” he said. “Having said that, I wouldn’t say the use of offsets is an ‘easy out’ for these companies. They can form part of the decarbonisation equation when they have a specific purpose, for instance, in trying to support indigenous communities.”

These industry leaders would do well to communicate with each other on their renewable ambitions, according to Martin. Such collaboration can help them all achieve their goals collectively, as opposed to individually. The coming together of BHP, Rio Tinto, Vale, Roy Hill, Teck, Boliden and Thiess for the ‘Charge on Innovation Challenge’ is a good example of this, where the patrons are pooling resources to come up with workable solutions for faster charging of large surface electric mining trucks.

“In the Pilbara, for example, there is a real opportunity to create a decarbonisation masterplan that seeks to capitalise on economies of scale,” he said. “If all the companies work towards that end goal collaboratively, they could achieve it much faster and at a much lower cost than if they go it alone.”

When it comes to OZ Minerals, the miner is clearly open to collaboration, whether it be with ENGIE Impact on decarbonisation, The Electric Mine Consortium with its fellow miners, the recently opened Hybrid Energy Plant at Carrapateena, the EU-funded NEXGEN SIMS project to develop autonomous, carbon-neutral mining processes, or through its various crowd sourcing challenges.