increasing collaboration between mines
and their partners; we are constantly being
approached by our customers to participate
in new mining technologies, so we work
increasingly in collaboration with them to
find solutions for the industry as a whole,”
he says.
He highlights how a more interconnected
and information-based mining operation
will continue to push the envelope of which
activities really need human interaction and
which can be automated. “The possibilities
for new operating models and new levels
of optimisation will create the next wave
of differentiation in the industry,” Keenan
concludes.
Technology to change the face of
mining
South Africa is home to some of the
deepest underground mines. Historically,
underground mining was a labour-intensive
process and mine employees got by with
very basic equipment. Today, underground
mining is a different story thanks to
technological innovations and development.
Technology has played a crucial role in the
improvement of underground mining —
having a positive impact on efficiency, safety,
and productivity.
Technological developments usually come
about following extensive research and
development (R&D) into the challenges of
underground mining. In most circumstances,
various stakeholders, such as tertiary
institutions, mining houses, and research
institutions, collaborate in identifying
Joe Keenan, the managing director of BME.
challenges and coming up with technological
solutions to address challenges.
At the launch of the Sibanye-Stillwater
Wits DigiMine Project at Wits in 2018,
director of Wits Mining Institute and
coordinator of the Wits DigiMine project,
Professor Fred Cawood, highlighted
the importance of mining research. He
mentioned mining as an important
contributor to South Africa’s economy.
The DigiMine project is an initiative
between Sibanye-Stillwater and Wits
Mining Institute where a Digital Mining
Laboratory (DigiMine) was established
at the basement of the Chamber of
Mines building at the University of the
Witwatersrand. The laboratory also includes
the Wits Mining Institute’s mock-up mine.
“The Sibanye-Stillwater/Wits relationship
is a technology-focused partnership that is
mobile computing and cloud data storage to
enhance safety, productivity, and information
transparency, allowing quicker and better
decision-making.”
He highlighted IoT as an important driver
of mine profitability through safe, efficient,
and automated operations.
“Our Axxis centralised blasting system
(CBS), for example, takes the benefits of
electronic detonation into the underground
environment — with active monitoring and
detection that gives mines the ability to take
corrective action before a blast instead of just
remedial action afterwards,” says Keenan.
“The system’s data collection capability
provides faster insights and improved blast
prediction using advanced analytics and
data tools; it also allows data visualisation
through dashboards and easier information
accessibility,” he adds.
In similar fashion, BME’s Xplolog
technology closely monitors the activity and
performance of teams conducting drilling,
charging, and stemming on a blast site — and
controls the utilisation of key resources like
emulsions.
“Xplolog captures detailed information
on each hole, picking up inconsistencies
or issues that could reduce the quality of a
blast,” says Keenan. “This easy-to-use tool can
upload and download data, presenting it on a
dashboard for better management decision-
making, and integrates with our powerful
Blastmap III design software,” says Keenan.
According to Keenan, the landscape is
no longer about commodities; rather, the
focus is now on embracing technology
and evolving as an industry. “This means
Mining in focus
ASX-listed Resolute Mining has partnered with solutions provider Sandvik
Mining and Rock Technology to automate the company’s Syama Mine in Mali.
[30] MINING MIRROR MAY 2019
www.miningmirror.co.za