Is this the mine of the future and the route NCM will take for Havieron?18 Jun 2020 11:28
https://www.mining-technology.com/features/mapping-out-autonomous-and-remote-mine-projects-in-western-australia/
Mapping out autonomous and remote mine projects in Western Australia
19 June 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic has thrust remote and autonomous mining technologies into the spotlight as a solution that could prevent mine closures. Western Australian mines have often been lauded as world-leading when it comes to these technologies, but which projects are leading the way? We map them out across the region.
Remote and autonomous mining technologies have seen slow but steady uptake over the past decade, with the first major investments coming from Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future initiative in 2008, which introduced automated machinery and remote-controlled processes at the company’s Pilbara mines.
Other miners have followed suit, with Western Australia’s Pilbara region itself particularly suited to trialling and rolling out all manner of technologies, from self-driving trucks to remote operations centres that can monitor processes off-site. But innovations are not limited to the Pilbara, with new projects popping up across the state and existing operations beginning to retrofit new technologies.
Koodaideri
The Koodaideri deposit, in the Hamersley Basin of Western Australia, is an iron ore mine in development with a view to commence production in 2021. Touted by owner Rio Tinto as the company’s first “intelligent” mine, the A$3.5bn development has brought Caterpillar on board to provide 20 autonomous trucks and 4 autonomous blast drills.
Koodaideri is exploring over 70 innovations, including a digital replica of the processing plant, accessible in real time by workers, as well as fully integrated automation and simulation systems, using technology to interconnect all components in the mining value chain. In February, Scott Technology secured a contract to design and build an automated sample preparation and analysis laboratory for the Koodaideri project. '
the above is an excerpt but the link gives examples of how automation technology will be applied to cut costs and max efficiencies
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