WORLD PROSPECTS
and place. Hotseat means that a replacement
driver will change for the regular mine truck
driver during his lunchtime. Flexible swing shift
facilitates operational continuity. These three
initiatives are expected to improve the mine truck
utilisation rate to above 81%.
The Perfect Shift will be launched at Aikhal
Division in April 2020. A Unified Control Centre
has already been set up to cut the downtime of
mine trucks waiting for loading. A service centre
based on the mining equipment repair shop will
be created to perform the maintenance of mine
trucks and excavators during each shift.
ALROSA lists the Jubilee mining fleet as
follows; but more recently new 130 t BELAZ
7513A trucks have also been added: BELAZ-75125
Rio invests in solar & battery for the Pilbara
R
io Tinto has approved a $98 million (100%
basis) investment in a new solar plant at the
Koodaideri mine in the Pilbara, Australia, as
well as a lithium-ion battery energy storage system
to help power its entire Pilbara power network.
The 34 MW solar photovoltaic plant is expected
to supply all of Koodaideri’s electricity demand
during peak solar power generation times and
approximately 65% of the mine’s average electricity
demand.
The plant, Rio Tinto’s first company-
owned solar facility, will consist of an
estimated 100,000 panels, covering an
area of 105 hectares. Construction is
expected to begin later this year,
subject to government approvals, and is
due to be completed in 2021.
Complementing it will be a new 12
MWh battery energy storage system in
Tom Price that will provide spinning
reserve generating capacity to support
a stable and reliable network.
The solar plant and battery are
estimated to lower annual carbon
dioxide emissions by about 90,000 t
compared to conventional gas powered generation.
This is the equivalent of taking about 28,000 cars
off the road.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive, Chris
Salisbury, said: “The construction of our first solar
plant in the Pilbara is a significant milestone for the
business and an important step in reducing our
carbon footprint in the region. We are investigating
additional renewable energy options in the Pilbara,
as well as other opportunities to reduce emissions
Scott Technology chosen for Koodaideri lab
S
cott Technology says it has been awarded a
significant contract by Rio Tinto to design
and build the automated mine site
laboratory for the Koodaideri iron ore project, in the
Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The automation and robotics solutions provider’s
contract involves the building construction and
equipment supply for the robotic sample
preparation and analysis laboratory, it said.
The project will be undertaken across multiple
Scott manufacturing sites and is scheduled to be
installed by mid-2021.
Scott Technology said: “The project
leverages recent advancements in
automation and digitisation, helping to
deliver a safer and more productive mining
operation. Once completed and in
production in 2021, the Koodaideri
laboratory will be the safest, most
productive, highest quality iron ore facility in
the world.”
Koodaideri, billed by Rio as an
‘intelligent mine,’ will deliver a new
production hub for Rio’s iron ore business in
the Pilbara, incorporating a processing plant
and infrastructure including a 166 km rail
6 International Mining | MARCH 2020
line connecting the mine to the existing network.
Construction on Koodaideri Phase 1 started in
2019 with first production expected in late 2021.
Once complete, the mine will have an annual
capacity of 43 Mt, underpinning production of the
company’s flagship iron ore product, Pilbara Blend.
The contract award highlights Scott’s evolution in
the mining sector from a leading supplier of sample
preparation equipment, to a complete end-to-end
automation and analysis solution provider, it said.
“The company’s commitment to R&D is helping
with load capacity of 120 t – 4 trucks; BELAZ-
75131 with load capacity of 136 t – 10 trucks;
BELAZ-75137 with load capacity of 136 t – 2
trucks; Haulpak D-510E (now part of Komatsu)
with load capacity of 136 t – 12 trucks; Unit Rig
MT3300 (now part of Caterpillar) with a load
capacity of 136 t – 26 trucks.
www.eng.alrosa.ru
across our entire global portfolio, building on the
43% reduction in absolute greenhouse gas
emissions since 2008.”
Rio Tinto is working to define new emissions
reduction targets from 2020 as part of its transition
to a lower carbon world. The company in response
to the issue of climate change posing urgent
challenges and why it is only doing this now states:
“We have publicly acknowledged the reality of
climate change for more than 20 years, and climate
risks have been a part of our strategic thinking for
just as long. As of end 2018, 71% of the electricity
used across our business was from renewable
sources (solar, hydro and wind).
While we have a number of
small-scale solar installations
currently in operation across
our rail network, large-scale
plants have only recently
become economically viable.
The solar plant at Koodaideri
will be our first, and we will
continue to integrate renewable
energies in the way we develop
and operate our mines so that
we can continue to make them
more sustainable.”
www.riotinto.com
to drive efficiency and output of some of the world’s
largest mines, and Scott is currently working with
multiple global mining companies and commercial
laboratories on large scale automation projects,
particularly in the Asia Pacific region,” it said. “In
recent years, the company has implemented
solutions in the mining sector such as robotic
refuel, robotic idler change, sampling systems, and
automated sample preparation facilities.”
Scott CEO, John Kippenberger, said: “Demand
for industrial automation continues to intensify,
driven by a continuing focus on health and safety,
and to improve productivity, quality and
profitability.
“As a global leader in automation and
robotic solutions, Scott is well positioned to
take advantage of this growing demand and
we are progressing a number of opportunities
across a range of sectors. With these latest
developments in our technology platform, we
see the mining sector continuing to play an
increasingly important role as a contributor to
Scott’s future growth.
“We are looking forward to partnering with
Rio Tinto on this innovative project that once
complete will set the new benchmark for safety
and operational excellence in iron ore sample
preparation and analysis.”
www.scottautomation.com