INTERNATIONAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
Mines in the Canadian oil sands face many
common challenges including, amongst
others brutally cold winters and harsh
geological conditions. Moreover, abrasive
silica sand and sticky bitumen take a toll
on heavy equipment. In addition, strict
regulations impact on their licenses to
operate and require a never-ending search
for solutions that mitigate the effect they
have on the environment.
Despite these conditions and
challenges, several mines in the oil
sands sector are setting production
records. Another thing these mines have
in common is that most of them use
Caterpillar’s 7495 Electric Rope Shovels.
Nearly 20 of these 1.360-tonne shovels are
the exclusive loading tools on three out of
four of the top producing sites.
With a payload of 109 tonnes, the
7495 is an ideal loading solution for the
challenging oil sands conditions. In addition,
they’re ideally matched to load ultra-class
mining trucks like the 363-tonne Cat 797.
More than three hundred 797s are currently
hauling ore in these tough conditions.
“Our goal is not only to build a shovel
that can withstand these tough conditions,
Cat shovels assist oil sands miners
Nearly 20 of Caterpillar’s 745 Electric Rope Shovels are used in top oil sands
operations in Canada.
but also one that can efficiently and
productively work in these environments,”
says Dale Blyth, electric rope shovel
product manager. “Loading tools have a
profound impact on our customers’ cost
per ton and overall production. We’re
pleased that our customers in the oil sands
are finding the 7495 to be the right tool to
help them achieve – and exceed – their
production goals,” he adds.
Komatsu trucks unleashed in Pilbara
Komatsu will deploy 41 automation-ready
Komatsu 930E-5 ultra-class haul trucks at
BHP’s South Flank iron ore project in the
Pilbara, Western Australia.
BHP, which has historically worked with
Caterpillar on its Pilbara autonomous projects,
approved the South Flank project in June last
year with plans for site-wide automation.
Komatsu expects to employ local
Western Australian workers to support the
needs of the unprecedented new-model
South Flank fleet, including technicians,
apprentices, mechanics and boiler
maker welders.
The trucks will add to the 250
autonomous haulage system (AHS)
machines that Komatsu has already
deployed and the 180 operating
globally across three continents at
nine mine sites.
Komatsu Australia CEO and managing
director, Sean Taylor, said people were
the central philosophy at the original
equipment manufacturer (OEM).
“Komatsu focuses on autonomous
technology job creation, with a focus on
safety, diversity, upskilling and an innovative
flexible work force that marries our people’s
needs with business goals. This is our
blueprint for the future,” says Taylor.
South Flank is being developed to
replace production from BHP’s 80 million
tonne a year Yandi mine, which is nearing
the end of its economic life. The project
is expanding BHP’s existing infrastructure
at Mining Area C, with construction of
an 80 million tonne a year crushing and
screening plant, an overland conveyor
system, stockyard and train loading
facilities, procurement of the new mining
fleet and substantial mine development
and pre-strip work.
Komatsu will deploy
41 automation-ready
Komatsu 930E-5
ultra-class haul trucks at
BHP’s South Flank iron
ore project in the Pilbara,
Western Australia.”
BHP’s South Flank iron ore project in the Pilbara, Western Australia.
6
NOVEMBER 2019
www.equipmentandhire.co.za