WORLD PROSPECTS
TOMRA to tackle mining ’ s circular economy
TOMRA , a leader in sensor-based technologies , says it understands that technology alone is not enough to create a closed-loop circular economy with public policy , consumer engagement and collaboration across the value chain also necessary .
Making the shift from “ linear to circular ” to build thriving economies requires radically lessening the environmental impact of extracting raw materials , reducing the use of primary resources , designing waste-free products , harnessing materials to keep them in use and implementing technologies to ensure the system is regenerative .
TOMRA is well positioned to contribute to the transition to a circular economy by collaborating with key players across the value chain , it said . To this end , it has created ReSociety , a global collaborative initiative to “ re-think , re-act and restart our world for a more sustainable future ”.
“ Our commitment to the circular economy is unequivocal ,” Dr Volker Rehrmann , Head of Circular Economy , TOMRA , said . “ We started with the recycling sector ; now we aim to build on this experience and collaborate with the mining industry to reduce its environmental impact . This means finding green mining solutions that use less energy and water to recover resources – consequently reducing CO 2 emissions – and ways to turn waste into value .”
TOMRA claims its advanced sensor-based sorting technologies can significantly reduce the environmental impact of mines and , at completion , fully rehabilitate the site . They have been shown to significantly reduce the amount of energy and water used compared with traditional methods , while maximising the efficiency and recovery of valuable ores , it added .
José Guilherme Valadares , Project Coordinator of Exploration and Mineral Projects at Vale , highlights another key advantage : “ By reducing the mine ’ s water usage and fine-grained wastes , TOMRA ’ s sensor-based sorting technologies also contribute to improving the issue of wet tailings management and , with that , mitigate the risks associated with tailings dams .”
TOMRA added : “ TOMRA ’ s sensor-based sorting technology can contribute to circular economy practices , turning marginal waste into value and improving the operation ’ s sustainability and profitability .”
This has been the case at Wolfram ’ s tungsten mine in Mittersill , Austria .
Alexander Mosser , Manager Ore Dressing Plant at the mine , said the savings achieved with TOMRA ’ s XRT technology include 75 % lower power consumption and no requirements for water and flotation reagents . “ Another resource conservation : the separated waste is a saleable product to the local construction industry ,” he said .
TOMRA ’ s sensor-based sorting solutions can also facilitate obtaining the licences and
financing to start a mining project by proving the efficient use of water and energy , the significantly reduced amount of waste materials , chemicals / reagents , and lower environmental risks such as tailings dam collapse , according to the company .
For example , rare earths mining company , Cheetah Resources , obtained a loan from the Canadian Government to purchase a TOMRA sorter for its Nechalacho Demonstration Project in Yellowknife on the strength of the sustainable performance of its XRT technology .
“ Mining has a key role to play in addressing the environmental challenges of the 21st century as the supplier of the raw materials , but a holistic approach is necessary ,” TOMRA said . “ There are economically viable solutions available today that can accelerate the path towards a truly green mining industry . The perfect time to start is now – with the technologies , proven strategies and collaborations between all stakeholders to make our future more sustainable .” www . tomra . com / mining
MMD ’ s FMSL initiates new era of truck & shovel mining
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International Mining sat down with MMD at MINExpo 2021 for an exclusive update on its Fully Mobile Surge Loader ( FMSL ) – its innovative in-pit solution that acts as a mobile storage bunker between the shovel and a continuous flow of trucks . It is designed to be capable of an average fill rate of approximately 70 seconds for a 400 t class truck .
The first unit in production is showing impressive results so far . It is delivering the expected benefits of almost eliminating nonproductive truck spotting time , according to MMD .
Louis Steyn , MMD VP , told IM : “ With this intelligent solution , trucks are loaded significantly faster than loaded directly by a shovel , and loaded in such a manner that is also safer and reduces wear on the truck fleet . It transforms the loading of haul trucks , making the process faster , more efficient and safer than ever before .”
In a traditional truck and shovel operation , the truck approaches the shovel , then stops and reverses to load . The optimum loading point is challenging to hit the majority of the time , as the truck driver and shovel operator are estimating the
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sweet spot . Operating between the shovel and trucks , the FMSL ’ s consistent hopper position and generous target allows the shovel operator to dig and load quicker and more continuously with the freedom to no longer worry about truck fill factors or material spillage . Couple this with the simple and guided ‘ drive-thru ’ operation of the trucks and the truck and shovel operation immediately becomes a lot more repeatable and efficient .
Trucks approaching the FMSL are first identified by RFID . After detection , the numerous sensors on-board the FMSL guide each truck type into the prescribed optimal loading position . Regulated material loading starts automatically , and the payload is monitored to deliver a consistently high fill rate .
Simulations have shown the FMSL ’ s potential to deliver up to 40 % improvement over truck and shovel system performance , up to 95 % shovel utilisation and up to 98 % average target payload , MMD says .
The FMSL also represents a major step forward for mine safety ; not only does it eliminate the complicated reversing manoeuvres in the loading
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area , but also the steady flow of material from the surge loader onto the truck bed is less aggressive , reducing shock loading and operator fatigue . These two factors , combined with optimal material loading , reduces damage and wear to truck components , such as the truck body , wheels and tyres , suspension , chassis and drive train . Having finite control over the truck payload also helps prevent overfilling of the truck and the potential for roll-back , spillage and other associated hazards .
The large material storage capacity provided by the hopper allows the shovel to reposition without interrupting the truck fleet production . Safe relocation of the FMSL is either by the shovel operator or via remote control . Additional protection systems such as geofencing and
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collision detection further bolster safety . |
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4 International Mining | OCT0BER 2021 |
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