WORLD PROSPECTS
Because the FMSL effectively decouples the truck and shovel operations , it also facilitates loading of a variety of truck types and capacities from a single shovel , overcoming a long-standing issue of truck / shovel incompatibility .
Steyn noted : “ The traditional restrictions of being pass-matched and fixed to a small fleet of
costly ultra-class trucks is no longer an issue . The FMSL provides the opportunity for larger fleets of smaller , more economical and environmentally friendly trucks , promoting the use of alternative fuels . This approach can also generate greater system flexibility and ore / waste management .”
Looking ahead , the combination of the FMSL with autonomous systems – where a truck can spot perfectly every time – opens up its potential even further . Steyn added : “ The FMSL is already intelligent and autonomous so combining this with AHS trucks will be relatively straightforward and promote a truly fully autonomous mine of the future .” www . mmdsizers . com
FQM bolsters Liebherr truck trolley fleet
Liebherr , after a busy MINExpo 2021 in which it announced tie-ups with ABB , ENGIE and Hexagon ’ s Mining division , on top of plans to accelerate the implementation of its existing low carbon solutions and new decarbonisation projects , has confirmed it will supply a further 11 T 284 trucks to operate on trolley lines at First Quantum Minerals Limited ( FQML )’ s Sentinel and Cobre Panama mines . This delivery will see the miner become the world ’ s largest operator of an ultra-class truck fleet on trolley .
In 2013 , Liebherr received an initial request from FQML to develop a 360 t trolley-capable haul truck for mine sites in Panama and Zambia . The trucks were required to integrate with the trolley power line that FQML had designed and developed for the sites .
Agreeing to this partnership , Liebherr engineers began developing , testing and verifying the trolley solution . Two Liebherr T 284 trucks with the Trolley Assist System were commissioned at Sentinel copper mine in Zambia in 2016 and testing of the trolley solution began in February of 2017 , with 12 months allotted for the customer to evaluate the trucks , trolley and customer service .
At the end of the trial period , FQML ordered six more trolley-capable T 284 trucks at Sentinel mine , along with 30-trolley-capable T 284 trucks for Cobre Panama copper mine in Panama , according to Liebherr .
As a mark of success of the partnership between FQML and Liebherr , along with the performance of the T 284 with trolley solution , FQML recently confirmed an order for a further 11 T 284 trucks . These three trucks for Sentinel and eight trucks for Cobre Panama will join the existing fleets operating with the Trolley Assist System . This soon-to-be fleet of 38 T 284s in Panama will claim the title of the world ’ s largest ultra-class truck fleet on trolley , according to Liebherr .
“ Trolley Assist truck systems have become integral to the development of First Quantum ’ s large scale open-pit truck haulage operations ,” an FQML representative said . “ Over the last decade , First Quantum has emerged as one of the industry leaders in implementation of Trolley Assist systems across mine planning and design , installation , operations , and maintenance .
“ During the past five years , Liebherr has proven itself as a proactive partner in the development of Trolley Assist capable truck fleet systems . First Quantum has selected the Liebherr T 284 ultraclass truck for some of our Trolley Assist deployments at our large-scale mining operations in Zambia and , more recently , as the sole deployed truck at our Panama mining operations . With a high degree of co-operation between our organisations , we see this partnership continuing to grow in years to come .”
Oliver Hoelzer , Director of Mining Liebherr- Panamá , said : “ Even before the arrival of the very first truck , Liebherr Panama ’ s relationship with FQML Panama has been more of a mutual partnership than a pure business relationship . Our highly committed team recognises that Liebherr ’ s own success is intrinsically linked to the success of FQML .”
Liebherr has also delivered six trolley-capable 100 t T 236 haul trucks to the Erzberg iron ore mine in Austria , bringing the total number of Liebherr trucks with the Trolley Assist System to 56 once FQML ’ s newest fleet has been commissioned . www . liebherr . com ; https :// first-quantum . com
Sandvik MN330 narrow reef miner heads to Anglo ’ s Mototolo
Anglo American has reportedly placed the first order for Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions ’ MN330 narrow reef production system , with the unit currently being assembled in Zeltweg , Austria , ahead of shipment to the Mototolo platinum mine in South Africa before the end of 2021 .
“ This is the result of a long-term collaboration , where we have developed not only a new system but a whole new method of mining ,” Arne Nicolaas Lewis , Vice President , Hard Rock Continuous Mining , Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions , said . “ Even the mine ’ s layout has been designed specifically for this system .”
The solution consists of the innovative hard-rock cutter Sandvik MN330 and a Hencon system that extracts the cut material from the mine and sends it through a series of filters and separators . Since the machine can be operated remotely , it greatly reduces the need for personnel to be inside the mine and drastically reduces employee risk exposure . Compared with the traditional drill and blast method used by Anglo American , CO 2 emissions are reduced by half , according to Sandvik .
Anglo American Platinum wholly owns and manages four mining complexes –
Mogalakwena , Amandelbult , Unki and Mototolo . These stretch across the Bushveld complex in South Africa while Unki is located on Zimbabwe ’ s Great Dyke . Except for Mogalakwena , all mines are underground conventional and mechanised
operations . Anglo American Platinum is working on productivity improvement at Mototolo – the company has said it is looking to expand production from 240,000 t / mth to 320,000 t / mth through technology deployment , aiming for a circa-20 % productivity improvement by 2025 relative to 2020 . It is also looking at the development of the Der Brochen orebody to extend Mototolo ’ s life of mine . This includes development of a decline and required infrastructure to access Der Brochen and help replace declining production from Mototolo . The Der Brochen project at Mototolo has received the first stage of approval and is on track to be fully approved by the end of the year , with the start of development shortly thereafter . The technical scope is being finalised , and first production is estimated to be in the first half of 2023 . www . rocktechnology . sandvik ; www . angloamericanplatinum . com
8 International Mining | OCTOBER 2021