AUSTRALIAN METS
Of the three material handling scenarios SRK Consulting tested, hoisting won on net present value at every depth tested, and the margin grows the deeper the mine goes and the larger the deposit emitter at every depth: 46 % below the decline at 600 m. That advantage narrows with depth, to around 25 % at 1,400 m because the interim trucking period – and its associated diesel emissions – lengthens as more of the shaft must be sunk before hoisting can begin. Even so, the declineonly scenario remains the highest emitter at every depth, driven by full-haul diesel trucking sustained for the mine life.
The case is not unconditional. A weighted Kepner-Tregoe evaluation across eight criteria – including technical risk and maintainability alongside NPV, schedule and emissions – still ranks hoisting first overall, scoring 4.4 to 4.5 out of 5 at every depth against 3.0 to 3.7 for the decline. The decline does score better on the two criteria that matter most to a risk-averse operator: it is proven, simply maintained technology with the shortest supply lead times, while a hoist’ s rope, conveyance and winder components can carry lead times of months and require specialist trades. Conveying, despite eliminating diesel haulage almost entirely, never closes the NPV gap at any depth – a one-year schedule delay and the ventilation penalty of the conveyor decline outweigh its emissions advantage.
Sensitivity testing across the model confirms that operating cost, not MHS capital, is what really moves project value: a plus-or-minus 20 % swing in horizontal development or production cost shifts NPV by 6 % to 12 %, while the same swing in MHS capital moves it by only around 2 %. That reframes the MHS decision away from what it costs to build and towards what it costs to run – and on that basis, hoisting increasingly wins the argument as mines go deeper.
For operators weighing haulage strategy on future underground projects, SRK’ s message is to model the raisebored, interim trucking hoist configuration early, rather than
32
only the shaft-first case that has historically ruled hoisting out.
A one-stop shop for load and haul attachments
Back on surface, Schlam recently announced the development of a comprehensive range of in-house engineered installation kits for mining truck beds and excavator buckets, providing, the company said, customers with a complete end-to-end solution for attachment supply and installation.
The load and haul attachment specialist, part of the USCO ITR Group, explained that the new installation kits are being developed as part of a significant threeyear product development program and will be compatible with all major OEM mining equipment manufacturers.
The first truck bed installation kits are expected to be available by the end of this year.
The kits will be bundled with Schlam’ s truck bed and mining bucket products, creating a streamlined procurement and installation process for mining operations while reducing the need to coordinate multiple suppliers, it claimed.
Schlam Executive General Manager, Product Lifecycle Services, Amit Bareja, said the initiative was a natural extension of the company’ s position as the market leader in load and haul attachments.
“ As a load and haul attachment specialist, it makes sense for Schlam to produce and sell these products, as they are required every time one of our truck beds or buckets is installed on a machine,” he said.“ From a customer perspective, they’ ll no longer need to deal with multiple suppliers, as kits will be bundled with our products, saving them both time and money. In addition, these product bundles will mean extended warranty options are available.”
The installation kits will be supported by Schlam’ s global service and support network, with stock held locally, to minimise lead times and maximise equipment availability.
The initiative reinforces Schlam’ s strategy of providing customers with a one-stop shop for load and haul attachment solutions, from design and manufacture through to installation and ongoing aftermarket support, the company concluded.
Schlam’ s new installation kits are being developed as part of a three-year product development program and will be compatible with all major OEM mining equipment manufacturers, the company said
International Mining | OCTOBER 2026