Tag: mining technology Australia

The old pit at Kapunda. Image: Environmental Copper Recovery.   BY ELIZABETH FABRI   A GROUP of researchers and miners have joined forces in a two and a half year study that aims to identify and resolve key challenges with in-situ recovery (ISR) mineral extraction in mining.   The research program, led by Mining3 and ISR specialists Environmental Copper Recovery (ECR), will be undertaken at Terramin’s Kapunda copper mine in South Australia with Thor Mining, the University of Adelaide and CSIRO. The program would involve a “tangible demonstration of ISR mining” at Kapunda, providing examples to industry of how to unlock value in stranded assets. Kapunda – Australia’s first commercial copper mine – has been mothballed since the early 1900s,...

Image: Rio Tinto.   BY ELIZABETH FABRI   AUSTRALIA’S mining sector has an opportunity to cement itself as a world-leader in the robotic space, according to new research by The Australian Centre for Robotic Vision.   Its newly launched Robotics Roadmap revealed mining was already ahead of other sectors, but the path to commercialisation was a key barrier in transitioning robotics from the R&D phase to market-ready product. Driverless trucks and drones were already deployed across major operations, delivering productivity efficiencies, improved safety, and cost savings. However, other areas to be unlocked included robots for mining in hazardous and remote geographic areas; using robots to mine on-demand when resources were required; developing independently aware robotic systems to reduce reliance on...

BY ELIZABETH FABRI WESTERN Australia could become the next global battery manufacturing hub as it edges closer to mining all the necessary materials for lithium-ion battery production. Speaking at day one of the Battery Minerals Conference in Perth, Mineral Commodities business development manager Daniel Hastings said the State was expected to become “the only jurisdiction in Australia and possibly the world” producing all raw materials for battery production, including nickel sulphate, lithium carbonate and hydroxide, and potentially battery anode material such as graphite. “We take the view - like most other companies - that the current energy revolution has just begun and the outlook for battery raw materials is extremely positive,” Mr Hastings said. “The State will soon be well...

Mining and Energy Services Council of Australia (MESCA) national manager Alex Stanojevic. All images: MESCA.   BY ELIZABETH FABRI   THE future competitiveness of Australia’s mining industry is synonymous with the health of its Mining Equipment Technologies and Services (METS) sector. But how can companies stay ahead amid an ever-changing digital landscape?   As technology rapidly advances, the opportunities and challenges for METS companies increase with it. We spoke with Mining and Energy Services Council of Australia (MESCA) national manager Alex Stanojevic about the next wave of growth for the sector and how his industry association facilitates collaboration.   Q. What does MESCA have planned for 2018? The Mining and Energy Services Council of Australia (MESCA) is part of the Australian Industry...

Image: FMG. BY ELIZABETH FABRI FORTESCUE Metals Group (FMG) will add more autonomous trucks to its fleet in FY18 as part of the company’s strategy to improve safety, productivity and efficiency across its Pilbara operations. Announced on 27 June, the FY18 innovation projects included converting up to 12 793F trucks to autonomous haulage technology (AHS) at Solomon Hub, the rollout of AHS across the Chichester Hub project, a relocatable overland conveyor trial at Cloudbreak mine, and IT network upgrades at Cloudbreak and Christmas Creek. Fortescue said about 100 haul trucks would be converted to AHS at the Chichester Hub to deliver on the 20 per cent productivity improvements recorded at Solomon since the company’s deployment of 56 AHS vehicles from...