MINING HOISTS
from truck haulage to EcoHoist haulage .
The commercial benefits were evaluated by forecasting the mine ’ s cash flow for three different scenarios . The primary difference between the scenarios as far as the financial modelling was concerned , was the operating cost of the mine , and the production rate . Both the EcoHoist and the EcoHoist + scenarios reduced the operating cost of the mine relative to the base case , providing a significant increase in net present value . The EcoHoist + scenario increased the production rate and near-term revenue , resulting in a higher net present value . This was the case to a substantial extent in the extension of the ore reserve case . In this case , the EcoHoist + scenario provided an NPV improvement of A $ 149 million relative to the base case .
The reduction in the mine ’ s operating cost for the EcoHoist scenarios was driven by the reduction in use of diesel trucks and ventilation demand , which simultaneously caused a reduction in CO 2 emissions . Additional environmental benefits were generated by the reduction in diesel truck use , including the reduction in diesel particulate emissions underground and reduction in ventilation requirements .
Two Ontario leaders in shaft sinking hoists
To get some insight into one key hoists market – that is shaft sinking hoists , we spoke to two leading suppliers , who are both Canada-based - Timberland Equipment Ltd in Woodstock , Ontario and Mine Hoists International ( MHI ) in North Bay , Ontario which is a division of Mining Equipment Ltd .
Beginning with Timberland Equipment , we caught up with Troy Smith , Business Development Manager . He says some of its largest projects in recent years have been in Australia . This includes four hoists for a single coal mining customer via the client , contractor RUC Mining . The winders were designed for a shaft sinking application . These winders control the lifting and lowering of the galloway during the shaft sinking process . Each of the galloways have two winders that are synchronised to lift and lower the galloway . The winders were designed with similar rope size , but did have variances due to project specific requirements . The hoists have 49,895 kg of line pull at 5.49 m / min in the first layer using 54 mm diameter wire rope . The drum is 90 in RD x 89 in between the flanges with each hoist having 1,550.82 m of rope on five layers .
In addition to this project Timberland has also delivered shaft sinking winder solutions to a copper mine . This includes the supply of four shaft sinking winders for the Wira Shaft at the
Prominent Hill copper mine which is part of BHP - these were supplied to the contractor Byrnecut . The Wira Shaft is designed to handle 6 Mt / y from 1,290 m below surface . Byrnecut has successfully introduced the Herrenknecht VSM shaft sinking system at the project - this mechanised , nonentry system excavated the shaft pre-sink to a depth of 93 m . Following the pre-sink , a pilot hole was constructed from surface to mid-shaft , then another from mid-shaft to shaft bottom . The full 7.5m diameter shaft was constructed using a strip and line methodology .
The latest winders were also designed and built to the latest New South Wales Technical Reference Guides ( TRG ) standards . This led to different styles and controls of braking and added redundancies to increase operational safety . Timberland performed full functional testing and static brake testing at its facility . During installation the contractors perform final site testing . Currently these winders are being installed at site and in their final commissioning and site testing stages .
MHI provided shaft sinking hoisting equipment to Agnico Eagle ’ s Mine Odyssey project in Malartic , Quebec in 2022 . This is a new shaft currently being sunk to approximately 5,900 ft . Dan Howe , MHI President said its supply included one used 173 in diameter x 72 in wide double drum hoist with 80,000 lbs rope pull that was completely refurbished and updated with a new
Two of the four Timberland winders supplied to Byrnecut for use in the Wira Shaft at BHP Prominent Hill
4,000 HP gear reducer and pinion disc brake . Two used 170 in head sheaves were refurbished and upgraded with new higher strength shafts and new bearings installed . Four used galloway winches , each rated at 130,000 lbs rope pull , were refurbished plus six used galloway winch 96 in head sheaves were refurbished and new bearings installed .
Murray & Roberts repurposes Platreef 3 Shaft
In a project innovation that will allow early hoisting of ore at Ivanhoe Mines ’ Platreef project , in South Africa , Murray & Roberts Cementation is in the process of repurposing its 3 Shaft – a
Mine Hoists International Ltd ( MHI ) provided shaft sinking hoisting equipment to Agnico Eagle ’ s Mine Odyssey project in Malartic , Quebec
90 International Mining | AUGUST 2024