WORLD PROSPECTS
Gavin Wood, Chief Information & Digital Officer
at Newcrest, said: “Safety is Newcrest’s number-
one priority and the network Telstra Mining
Services has built with us at Lihir will enable
safer and more efficient mining using new
technologies. The success of this project was
100% driven by leadership and personal
commitment of the Lihir’s OT/IT team working
together with Telstra Mining Services.”
LTE is a future-ready platform for wireless
communications in mining, providing dependable
and scalable communications that the next
generation of machines, systems and workforce
applications will require. Having been proven in
carrier networks, it’s now seen as the mining
industry’s next step for connectivity.
www.telstra.com.au;
www.newcrest.com.au
Hexagon fatigue montoring solution for light mine vehicles
H
exagon AB, a global leader in digital
solutions, recently introduced HxGN
MineProtect Operator Alertness System
Light Vehicle (OAS-LV), a fatigue and distraction
detection unit that continuously monitors
operator alertness inside the cab of light vehicles,
buses and semi-trucks.
OAS-LV expands Hexagon’s portfolio for
operator safety solutions, filling a gap to protect
light-vehicle operators from falling asleep at the
wheel, crashing or other fatigue-related incidents.
The product is based on the proven technology
used in HxGN MineProtect Operator Alertness
System Heavy Vehicle (OAS-HV), which protects
operators of haul trucks.
“Operator fatigue and distraction are recurring
hazards in mining and other industries,” said Ola
Rollén, Hexagon President and CEO. “OAS-LV is a
valuable integration to our market-leading
MineProtect safety portfolio and further proof that
Hexagon — like its customers — is serious about
safety.”
The solution’s in-cab device is easy to install
and scans the operator’s face to detect any sign of
fatigue or distraction, such as a microsleep. A
machine-learning algorithm leverages this facial-
feature analysis data to-determine whether or not
an alert should be triggered. OAS-LV works in
both light and dark conditions, and through
prescription glasses and/or sunglasses.
The in-cab hardware is always connected, and
data from the vehicle may be transmitted to the
Major coal consolidation in PRB, Colorado
P
eabody and Arch Coal have entered into a
definitive agreement to combine the
companies’ Powder River Basin and Colorado
assets, in the US, in what they call “a highly
synergistic joint venture” aimed at strengthening
the competitiveness of coal against natural gas and
renewables.
The joint venture is expected to unlock synergies
with a pre-tax net present value of approximately
$820 million, according to the companies, with
average joint venture synergies projected to be
approximately $120 million/y over the initial 10
years. The joint venture will be 66.5% owned by
Peabody and 33.5% owned by Arch.
Among other assets, the joint venture will
combine two productive and adjacent US coal mines
– Peabody’s North Antelope Rochelle mine (NARM)
and Arch’s Black Thunder mine, which share a
property line of more than 11 km – into a single,
lower-cost complex.
Peabody says it has the lowest-cost position
among major Powder River Basin producers, while
Arch has some of the highest-quality coal in the
PRB. Arch is contributing its low-cost, higher-margin
West Elk Mine that enhances Peabody’s Twentymile
mine in Colorado. Further PRB synergies are
expected from the integration of the Caballo,
Rawhide and Coal Creek mines, which have some of
the best overburden-to-coal ratios in the world, the
companies claim.
Together with NARM and Black Thunder, these
PRB assets represent five of the 10 most productive
mines in the US, they said. The inclusion of the
Colorado assets will lead to additional synergies
and offer the ability to better serve domestic
customers while preserving
seaborne coal optionality.
In 2018, on a combined
basis, the assets shipped 206
million tons (187 Mt) of coal.
The assets are operated by a
workforce of approximately
3,300, with combined proven
and probable reserves
totalling 3.4 billion tons (3,084
Mt) as of December 31, 2018.
Peabody President and
Chief Executive Officer, Glenn
Komatsu acquires Immersive Technologies
K
omatsu Ltd, through its wholly owned
subsidiary in Australia, has agreed to acquire
global mining technology and workforce
6 International Mining | JULY 2019
optimisation firm Immersive Corporation Pty Ltd
(Immersive Technologies), which specialises in
increasing mine profitability by optimising the safety
and productivity of equipment operators,
on the condition that all necessary
procedures for closing are completed.
“Retaining its headquarters in Perth,
Western Australia, Immersive
Technologies will continue to deploy its
highly effective solution to its customers.
This solution aligns People, Process, and
Technology to reduce risk, quantify
cloud or an on-site monitoring centre. This
enables real-time notifications for supervisors and
controllers to apply intervention protocol and
allow for further forensic analytics.
The OAS-LV was one of the many innovative
solutions being showcased at HxGN LIVE 2019,
Hexagon’s annual digital technology
conference. www.hexagonmining.com
Kellow, said: “The Peabody/Arch joint venture is an
extraordinary example of industrial logic targeted to
strengthen the competitive position of our products
and create significant value for multiple
stakeholders in a low-cost combination with
exceptional physical synergies.”
Aggregated synergies are expected to enable the
joint venture to significantly reduce costs well
beyond what each company could achieve alone,
the companies said, adding: “A lower cost structure
enables coal to better compete against other energy
sources for electricity generation and create value.”
www.archcoal.com; www.peabodyenergy.com
training impact and effectively manage the training
process.”
“As part of Komatsu’s drive to deliver greater value
to mining customers, Komatsu is committed to
delivering equipment and system-based solutions,
including automation, digitisation, and visualisation
technologies. Komatsu strongly believes that to fully
achieve this commitment, it is essential to offer
human skill based solutions, including training and
workforce development. Immersive Technologies, as
the market leader in this space will therefore facilitate
Komatsu’s deep commitment to its mining
customers.” www.immersivetechnologies.com;
www.mining.komatsu