Mining in focus
Underground mining
— automate or die
T
echnology has made a significant
impact on underground mining.
Automation, mechanisation, the
Internet of Things (IoT), data
integration, and information management
systems are changing the way mines operate,
or plan to operate in the future. This does
not only apply to new greenfield operations
in feasibility stages, but also to older, more
complex operations like the mines in
South Africa’s platinum belt, for example.
Although the geology, and the way that
these mines were planned and designed, does
not always lend itself to autonomous mining
methods, data integration and management
systems will radically modernise the way
they operate.
There is no doubt that technology has
already interrupted and will continue to
interrupt the traditional way of mining.
According to Niel McCoy, Sandvik Mining
and Rock Technology BLM Automation
– Southern Africa, the way that companies
manage mines will have to change radically
if they want to remain relative in the next
five years.
Innovation has been a hallmark of
Sandvik’s modernisation drive over the past
10 years. The solutions-driven company
has been instrumental in the development
of ASX-listed Resolute Mining’s fully
autonomous Syama underground mine in
Mali. The Syama underground mine will
be the world’s first purpose-built, fully
automated, sublevel cave gold mine in the
world.
Syama is a good example of what to expect
from mining in the future, although these
methods might already be out of date even
five years from now. It also illustrates how
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
and other suppliers will have to partner
with mining companies and actively become
[28] MINING MIRROR MAY 2019
involved in the planning and development
stages of projects.
John Welborn, Resolute’s managing
director and CEO, says Sandvik is the only
equipment provider that could offer the
full suite of proven autonomous equipment
and digital solutions that the gold mining
company required.
Resolute and Sandvik designed the
operation, collaborating on equipment
selection, underground infrastructure design,
and the ability to match solutions to the
miner’s requirement to operate machinery
that increases profitability, reduces costs, and
improves safety.
Welborn says there are several benefits to
automating its Syama Mine in Mali. These
include increased machine productivity
and performance; a reduced number of
machines required; reduced risk and better
safety outcomes; a reduction in underground
personnel; lower production costs per tonne;
greater control of mining with less variation;
a reduction in wear and damage; increased
productivity and efficiency; greater machine
life; the potential for mining rate increases;
and the ability to train the workforce using
new technologies.
Furthermore, the partnership provided
an opportunity for shared knowledge of
technologies, linking Sandvik equipment and
the software that Resolute uses with their
value chain and operations. Sandvik provided
their AutoMine and OptiMine systems for
planning, analysis, process optimisation, and
automation, including a full fleet of Sandvik
TH663i trucks, LH621, DL421 autonomous
drills, and Sandvik LH514E electrical loaders
to fully automate the mine.
Resolute’s Syama automation plan, along
with a power upgrade project, has helped
it reduce the cost profile of the operation
by as much as 15%. An updated definitive
Technology is changing the face of underground
mining, writes Leon Louw and Dineo Phoshoko.
Most mining activities will be
automated within the next five years.
www.miningmirror.co.za