Australian Mining June 2023

DECISION-MAKERS CONNECTIVITY

A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

WORKING TOGETHER ON THE PATH TO NET-ZERO

Enabling Integration with MineRP

Conditional Monitoring

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A SHARED JOURNEY

PAUL HAYES

paul.hayes@primecreative.com.au

SSaying the mining industry – or indeed any industry – needs to continue its push to a more sustainable future is one of the least controversial statements a person can make.

Everyone knows it’s vital and everyone knows more can (must) be done.

But what some people might not realise is the sheer volume of ways in which a given industry can go about reaching that worthy goal.

Sure, people will know the mining industry can benefit from greater use of electric vehicles and other technology that lower emissions.

But are they likely to know sustainable mining can include, say, optimising temporary on-site accommodation so it uses air-conditioning less frequently and thus reduces emissions?

The June edition of Australian Mining showcases some of the surprisingly disparate ways mining companies are using sustainable products and practices to help ensure a greener future for the industry and the world as a whole.

From effective data management to LED lighting to intelligent software to energy monitoring to greater levels of mining, the industry paths to a more sustainable future are many and varied – as you’ll see in the coming pages of this issue.

Staying on the theme of a sustainable future, we take a closer look at the state of lithium mining.

As a critical mineral vital in electrification,

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JOHN MURPHY

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

CHRISTINE CLANCY EDITOR

PAUL HAYES

Email: paul.hayes@primecreative.com.au

ASSISTANT EDITOR ALEXANDRA EASTWOOD

Email: alexandra.eastwood@primecreative.com.au

JOURNALISTS TOM PARKER Email: tom.parker@primecreative.com.au

LEWIS CROSS

Email: lewis.cross@primecreative.com.au

lithium has a central role to play in the coming years and decades, but is Australia doing enough in this space.

Elsewhere in this issue, we maintain our recent run of sitting down with some of the more important decision-makers in the mining industry.

Thiess Rehabilitation group manager James Anderson chats with Australian Mining about the importance of delivering sustainable mine rehabilitation, while Emesent chief executive and co-founder Dr Stefan Hrabar discusses some of the company’s key solutions for the mining  industry.

Looking at the resources sector more broadly, we have a magnifying glass to the recently proposed ‘same job, same pay’ law that will require employers to pay labour hire workers the same rate as direct employees doing the same job. How would it work? And how will it affect the mining  industry?

Finally, with BHP officially completing its $9.6 billion takeover of OZ Minerals, we take a look back at OZ’s history as a successful copper and nickel miner in Australia.

FRONT COVER

For over 70 years, Liebherr has established itself as a pioneer in shaping the technological progress in various industries, including the mining sector.

With over 50,000 employees across 140 company sites, Liebherr is able to offer individually tailored solutions to every customer.

From used machines and spare parts to operating fluids and the Liebherr Reman program, Liebherr stands for comprehensive service and competent advice. It also ensures that the highest quality services are at the core of everything it does, making the best possible solutions available to its customer base.

Liebherr has gone from strength to strength since its first foundation in 1949, and will continue to do so as the world moves toward net zero and low carbon emissions.

Paul Hayes Managing Editor

TIM BOND Email: tim.bond@primecreative.com.au

CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER JANINE CLEMENTS Tel: (02) 9439 7227 Email: janine.clements@primecreative.com.au

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ART DIRECTOR BLAKE STOREY blake.storey@primecreative.com.au

Cover image: Liebherr

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THE PATH TO NET-ZERO AND A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IS FAR BROADER THAN IT MIGHT FIRST APPEAR.

22 COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

What’s the deal with lithium? If lithium is the prized pony of the clean energy movement, then Australia is the one holding the reins – but could we be doing more?

26 SUSTAINABILITY

A National sustainability effort

As one of the biggest, most distinguished mining services companies in Australia, National Group understands it has a key role to play in ensuring its sustainability and ESG practices are first-rate.

30 SUSTAINABILITY

Can we achieve net-zero by 2030?

Australian Mining sat down with FLSmidth’s head of legal – APAC to discuss the prospect of meeting net-zero by 2030, and the important role the mining sector has to play.

34 SUSTAINABILITY

Change starts here – it’s time for action

The world doesn’t need more words, it needs action, and Volvo CE and CJD Equipment are leading the way.

36 SUSTAINABILITY

Preserve the mine environment

INX Preserve is a monitoring solution that delivers data and insights to help mine sites meet their sustainability goals.

44 SUSTAINABILITY

Optimised rehab build and management

Utilising technology for improved outcomes when a site reaches the end of its life.

52 DECISION-MAKER

Delivering sustainable mine rehabilitation

Australian Mining sat down with Thiess Rehabilitation group manager James Anderson to discuss what happens at the end of a mine’s life.

58 INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Not so same old, same old Australia’s proposed ‘same job, same pay’ law will require employers to pay labour hire workers the same rate as direct employees doing the same job. How would it work?

70 INDUSTRY INSIGHT

OZ Minerals: A timeline

Future-facing metals company OZ Minerals has left behind a legacy as a global leader in the mining industry.

THE LATEST MINING AND SAFETY NEWS

AUSTRALIAN MINING PRESENTS THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE MINE AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. VISIT WWW.AUSTRALIANMINING.COM. AU TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING.

QUEENSLAND OPENS ITS LARGEST GOLD MINE

AUSTRALIAN MINING GETS

THE LATEST NEWS EVERY DAY, PROVIDING MINING PROFESSIONALS WITH UP-TO-THE-MINUTE INFORMATION ON SAFETY, NEWS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MINING AND RESOURCES INDUSTRY.

touted as the supplier of gold for the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic medals in 2032

“This is a major achievement for our team at Ravenswood Gold and for the township of Ravenswood,” Ravenswood Gold chief executive officer Brett Fletcher said.

Ravenswood Gold completed a $350 million expansion at the site. Located 130km south-west of Townsville, the mine has created over 350 local jobs and has supported 1000 contractors.

The mine is set to produce over 200,000 ounces of gold a year.

Resources Minister Scott

project “deserves a gold medal for how it supports locals and local  businesses”.

“It is providing good jobs, flow on benefits for local businesses and is ensuring a sustainable future for the town of Ravenswood well beyond the life of the mine,” he said.

“And all Queenslanders benefits

“The resources industry directly supports about 75,000 jobs across the state, particularly in the regions, which account for about two-thirds of all mining jobs.”

The mine has been in operation since 1987 and was purchased by Ravenswood Gold in April 2020.

In 2021, the gold mine was

“We are delivering huge economic benefits and providing local employment opportunities, with the vast majority of our team living within a two-hour drive of the mine.

“Ravenswood Gold is a great example of local people working together with private business and government to bring real benefits for the state of Queensland.”

Western Mines Group (WMG) has announced the “pivotal discovery” of a significant nickel system, causing a spike in the company’s share price.

The gold and nickel exploration company aimed to test drill the deepest part of a particular grant at its flagship WA Mulga Tank project to gather geological data. The result was the discovery of an extensive nickel sulphide system.

The ASX reacted in kind to the news of the discovery.

After closing Tuesday at $0.115 per share, WMG clocked in $0.315

per share on Wednesday, a 110 per cent increase in performance for the  week.

Located in the Eastern Goldfields of WA, WMG’s Mulga Tank is considered highly prospective for nickel, copper, and platinumgroup  elements.

“(The drill hole) MTD023 was a big hole for WMG, in more than one sense,” WMG managing director Caedmon Marriot said.

“With the aid of our EIS (Exploration Incentive Scheme) grant we simply aimed to drill the deepest

part of the complex – to gather the greatest amount of geological information we could.

“It could well be a pivotal hole for the company, with these assay results confirming the visual observations of extensive disseminated nickel sulphide mineralisation.

“The hole validates our geological model of the complex and really demonstrates a significant working nickel sulphide mineral system with huge volumes of mineralised ultramafic magma.” WMG technical director Ben Grguric said the

geological data “bodes extremely well for the prospectivity of the project”.

“Every new drill hole in the main Mulga Tank dunite body is showing broad intersections of disseminated sulphide together with scattered intersections of high-grade remobilised nickel sulphide,” he said.

“These are clearly hallmarks of a very large mineralised system.”

The company has indicated it is currently undertaking a diamond drilling program to test a number of follow-up targets.

“PIVOTAL” NICKEL DISCOVERY SPARKS AN ASX SURGE

THE RAVENSWOOD GOLD MINE IS SET TO PRODUCE OVER 200,000 OUNCES OF GOLD A YEAR.

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PORT HEDLAND SEES RECORD RESULTS

Pilbara Ports Authority’s (PPA)

Port of Port Hedland has beaten its previous 24-hour throughput record, achieving 2.817 million tonnes, with 15 vessel movements.

The previous 24-hour throughput record of 2.573 million tonnes was achieved in December 2021.

The result was achieved despite last week’s temporary closure due to Cyclone Ilsa, which crossed the Pilbara coast as a category five

storm on April 13 at midnight.

The PPA said that Cyclone Ilsa crossed approximately 120km east northeast of Port Hedland.

Prior to Cyclone Ilsa, Port Hedland had not been forced to shut down since 2019, when tropical cyclone Veronica struck the coast in March of that same year.

However, the incoming Cyclone Ilsa forced PPA to close the port in the early morning of April 12, with

all berths and anchorages cleared the following afternoon. After safety inspections were complete, the port was re-opened in the late morning of April 14.

A late south-easterly change in Cyclone Ilsa’s path meant that the port was spared the worst of the storm.

The latest Port of Port Hedland throughput results are the largest 24-hour throughput Port Hedland has

ever seen, according to PPA’s chief executive officer Roger Johnston.

“This amount of throughput has never been achieved before, and is down to the hard work of our people, who quickly got the port up and running after the passing of Tropical Cyclone Ilsa last week,” Johnston said.

“I’ve never heard of a port bouncing back as well as we did after a closure, and I thank the team for their outstanding efforts.”

Boss Energy’s Honeymoon uranium project is on track, with strong progress on all fronts.

The Honeymoon project is a uranium mine roughly 80km northeast of Broken Hill in South Australia. It ceased operation in 2013 due to low uranium prices and was bought by Boss Energy in 2015.

Approval for the revamping of Honeymoon was received in October 2022 and start-up is expected to occur in the December quarter of 2023.

Boss Energy hopes to produce 2.5 million pounds of uranium annually by  2026.

The company is fully funded through

to production, with cash on hand of $103 million and a uranium stockpile with a value of $96 million.

Boss Energy also reported that $65 million, or 62 per cent, of budgeted expenditure has now been committed to the program.

The company also reported that all critical equipment components, including the essential ion exchange columns, are on track for delivery.

“All aspects of the construction are proceeding to plan, including delivery of critical equipment, wellfield development and the evaporation pond,” Boss Energy managing director Duncan Craib said.

“We are currently scheduled to be on track for first production as planned in the December quarter of this year.

“This timetable was designed to ensure we are in production at the start of the next forecast uranium bull market, not half-way through it.

“With the outlook for the uranium price continuing to strengthen amid growing use of nuclear power and a shift away from Russian uranium, we are perfectly positioned as we prepare to move into the final stages of construction ahead of commissioning.”

In January, Boss Energy appointed

experienced mining professional James Davidson as the general manager of Honeymoon.

Davidson has previously held positions with Rio Tinto, Mt Gordon Copper and Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) at its Ranger uranium  mine.

“James has immense experience across project management and construction, with a particular emphasis on uranium metallurgy and operations,” Craib said in January.

“This knowledge will be invaluable as we advance development of Honeymoon and prepare for commissioning and steady-state production.”

AUSTRALIA IS THE SECOND LARGEST PRODUCER OF URANIUM IN THE WORLD.

RARE EARTHS DISCOVERY OF “MULTIGENERATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE”

Australian Rare Earths has increased the mineral resource estimate for its Koppamurra clay-hosted rare earths project by 25 per cent following an exploration program at the SA site.

This represents an increase to 101 million tonnes at 818 parts per million (ppm) of total rare earth oxide (TREO).

Results also increased the indicated resource by 40 per cent to 63 million tonnes, increasing the grade to 839ppm TREO.

Put simply, the Koppamurra project is host to much more rare earth than

originally estimated.

Exploration has so far revealed the presence of praseodymium oxide, neodymium oxide, terbium oxide and dysprosium oxide, all of which are essential elements for making  magnets.

Such materials are integral components in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and a variety of appliances across countless industries. Magnet rare earths help reduce power consumption and consequently help to reduce  emissions.

Australian Rare Earths acting managing director Rick Pobjoy said the company was excited by the revealed potential of the Koppamurra  project.

“Koppamurra’s Tier 1 jurisdiction location, together with a rare earth element suite that offers the potential to supply both the light and heavy rare earths required for highstrength permanent magnets, offers significant optionality with multiple low-cost pathways to further expand and enhance the project,” he said.

“The company has demonstrated

WHAT HAPPENS TO WORKERS IN THE OZ MINERALS TAKEOVER?

With the final hurdle of BHP’s takeover of OZ Minerals having been cleared, some from the OZ Minerals team changes sides, others walk away, and many wonder what comes next.

Andrew Cole, who has served as OZ Minerals’ chief executive officer since 2014, confirmed last week that he will not be joining BHP and would instead take a break.

After punching his ticket, Cole will be walking away with $6 million in cash related to his entitlements with OZ Minerals.

Michelle Ash, who joined OZ

Minerals in 2022 in the role of technology executive, will move to BHP. According to the Australian Financial Review, Ash will work under chief operating officer, Edgar Basto, to develop a copper province in South Australia.

“The team will work closely with the Olympic Dam, Carrapateena and Prominent Hill teams to develop the growth projects and infrastructure required to build a copper province in South Australia,” Basto said an internal memo, as reported by AFR

Outside of the board room, BHP

has indicated that it intends to retain the majority of OZ Minerals’ workforce, particularly at Prominent Hill and Carrapateena.

“BHP has stated publicly that it intends to retain the vast majority of the people,” OZ Minerals chairperson Rebecca McGrath said at a shareholder meeting in April.

“It also stated that it has a high regard for the culture and people of the company, as we have some very important operating assets here in South Australia and our projects in Western Australia and Brazil.

BHP’s takeover of OZ Minerals

that rapid and progressive rehabilitation can be easily undertaken. All of these factors distinguish Koppamurra as a unique rare earth business opportunity.

“Koppamurra is one of only very few advanced ionic clay-hosted rare earth deposits located outside of China or Myanmar. The project it is now clearly emerging as one of both scale and quality.”

Australian Rare Earths has planned an accelerated program of follow up drilling at new exploration sites to further expand the resource base.

is expected to be implemented by May 2, following approval of the $9.63 billion deal by the Federal Court earlier this month.

OZ Minerals has a number of operations in Brazil, including the Santa Lúcia iron oxide copper-gold mineral deposit, the Antas coppergold mine, and CentroGold, one of the largest undeveloped gold projects in Brazil.

The acquisition gives BHP access to OZ Minerals’ significant portfolio of future-facing minerals – namely copper and nickel – that are vital to the world’s push for clean energy.

EXPLORATION ESSENTIAL MAGNET-MAKING ELEMENTS.

QUEENSLAND’S POTENTIAL GOLDEN PAYDAY

Cannindah Resources has discovered a large deposit of high-grade gold near the Wide Bay-Burnett region in  Queensland.

The gold was found near the northern Wide Bay-Burnett town of Monto, not far from the company’s Mt Cannindah copper-gold-silver project.

The Monto gold discovery is being positioned as a potential gateway to investment and growth in the Wide Bay region.

As reported by the ABC, Cannindah

executive chairman Tom Pickett said the company had been drilling within the region for some time and extended what mineralisation was initially thought to be under the surface.

Pickett told the ABC there were 5.5 million tonnes of minerals found at the site, with more to be explored.

“It’s significant for the region in a sense, because there’s not a lot of copper projects and gold projects of this sort of size, in (the company’s) opinion. It could be quite large, it

MILLIONS FOR EXPANSION OF MAJOR NICKEL DISCOVERY

Following its “pivotal” nickel discovery in May, Western Mines Group (WMG) has completed a capital raise of $2.7 million to bolster the project.

The capital raise will go to expanding and accelerating the diamond drilling program at WMG’s Mulga Tank project.

Located in the Eastern Goldfields of WA, WMG’s Mulga Tank is considered highly prospective for nickel, copper, and platinum-group elements.

“These funds will be going into the

ground and allow drilling to continue at Mulga Tank, likely for the rest of the year, as we build on our exciting recent results from the project,” MGW chairman Rex Turkington said.

The raise was completed via of a wave of new shares.

A total of 8,019,500 new fully paid ordinary shares were issued. The bulk went to sophisticated investors, with the remaining 662,000 issued to a major WMG shareholder, Equentia Natural Resources.

could provide for significant job opportunities,” Pickett told the ABC

“We’ll keep assessing the size and keep adding to that with this drill program as we continue on.”

In addition to the gold discovery, Cannindah discovered copper at Hole 18 of its Mt Cannindah project site, which is located 100km south of Gladstone, Queensland. The site has also seen extensive gold and silver discoveries recently.

The Wide Bay-Burnett region has

various resources sectors, which supported 1688 local jobs and contributed $963 million to the region’s gross regional product in the 2021-22 financial year.

Queensland Exploration Council chair Kim Wainwright told the ABC the discoveries in Wide Bay-Burnett region are exciting.

“(Large discoveries) usually indicate that it’s going to progress through the exploration phase into the mining phase,” Wainwright told the ABC

The announcement follows a trading halt on Tuesday that allowed MGW to capitalise on a favourable market in the wake of last week’s discovery at Mulga Tank.

WMG aimed to test drill the deepest part of a particular grant at its Mulga Tank project to gather geological data. The result was the discovery of an extensive nickel sulphide system.

The ASX reacted in kind to the news of the discovery.

The day prior to the discovery announcement, WMG was trading at $0.115 per share, which leapt to $0.315 per share when the news  broke.

Share price peaked at $0.48 per share and has since cooled to $0.38, representing a 108 per cent increase in performance for the past month.

“(The drill hole) MTD023 was a big hole for WMG, in more than one sense,” WMG managing director Caedmon Marriot said.

MULGA TANK IS CONSIDERED HIGHLY PROSPECTIVE FOR NICKEL, COPPER, AND PLATINUM-GROUP ELEMENTS.

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NEWMONT TAKEOVER OF NEWCREST TO GO AHEAD

After a three-month battle, US gold giant Newmont landed its Australian target in May with a $26.2 billion offer. The two companies reached an agreement for Newmont to acquire 100 per cent of the issued shares in Newcrest by way of a scheme of arrangement.

Newcrest shareholders will receive 0.400 Newmont shares for each Newcrest share held, representing a value of $29.27 per Newcrest share, or an equity value of $26.2 billion. The Newcrest board also unanimously recommended that shareholders vote in favour of the Newmont takeover at a meeting set to take place in September or October this year.

Newcrest shareholders will hold a 30.1 per cent stake in the new combined entity. This takeover also raises foreign ownership of Australian gold assets above the 50 per cent margin.

“This transaction will combine two of the world’s leading gold producers, bringing forward significant value to Newcrest shareholders through the recognition of our outstanding growth pipeline,” Newcrest chairman Peter Tomsett, said. “The combined group will set a new benchmark in gold production while benefitting from a material and growing exposure to copper and a market leading position in safety and sustainability,” he said. As part of the arrangement, Newcrest has permission to pay a franked special pre-completion dividend to shareholders of US$1.10 per share.

Newmont chief executive officer Tom Palmer reacted to the arrangement.

“It (the takeover) creates an industryleading portfolio with a multi-decade gold and copper production profile in the world’s most favourable mining jurisdictions,” he said.

“Leveraging our experience from the acquisition of Goldcorp four years ago, we are positioned to deliver an

estimated $500 million in annual synergies and an estimated $2 billion in incremental cash flow from portfolio optimisation opportunities. Newcrest – originally a Newmont

DARWIN GETS A CRITICAL MINERALS BOOST

Australian critical minerals company Tivan will move its company headquarters to Darwin to further its plans for a multi-mineral hub.

The move will strengthen Tivan’s presence in the NT while supporting the company’s next phase of planning for the planned hub.

The hub will process the critical minerals that are essential for the move to renewable energy while creating 1500 jobs during construction and approximately 1000 long-term employment  opportunities.

“The Territory is rapidly emerging as a key player when it comes to the global supply chains for the critical minerals required for new technologies and the energy transition,” Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said.

“The need for new critical mineral mines and mineral processing continues to grow to support the demand for renewable energy, battery storage and hightechnology  industries.

“This presents significant economic and strategic opportunities for the

subsidiary spun off in the 1960s –operates mines in Australia, Canada and Papua New Guinea, with the latter including Lihir, one of the largest gold mines in the world. Newmont first

attempted a takeover in February with a $24 billion offer, which Newcrest rejected. Soon after, Newcrest granted Newmont exclusive due diligence, paving the way for the final offer.

Territory to become a reliable supplier of minerals to support the transition to a decarbonised  economy.”

Tivan executive chairman Grant Wilson said that the relocation of the company’s headquarters is an important step for the future of Tivan.

“It will materially assist in project facilitation, especially in respect of our pilot plant and the significant work we have ahead at the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct (MASDP),” he said.

“HQ will now be proximate to Tivan’s

core interests and future workforce, and to greater Asia as well.

“Today’s announcement also has important symbolic resonance. Tivan is now one of a handful of ASX listed companies with HQ in the Northern Territory and remains the sole public proponent at MASDP.

“The move will further differentiate our corporate profile and value propositions, as we continue to deepen relationships with key stakeholders, including in community, government and First Nations.”

NEWMONT IS THE LARGEST GOLD PRODUCER IN THE WORLD.

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Liebherr strives for long-term sustainable solutions, providing different modular options centred on environmental sustainability, safety, cost, flexibility, and maintainability including:

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– Liebherr combustion engine compliant with Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel

– Tier 4 Final certified engine available on trucks, excavators, and dozers

Liebherr AC drive system on all truck models providing a modular platform for future powertrain technologies

Liebherr‘s roadmap includes batteries, combustion engines using green fuels, and hybrids.

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fossil fuel free solutions will be established.

QUEENSLAND COAL ON THE MOVE

The Dalrymple Bay Terminal (DBT) in central Queensland will get a major upgrade in the form of a new shiploader and reclaimer.

Building works for both the shiploader and reclaimer will commence this year and are expected to take three to four years to complete.

The DBT ships coal from operations in the Bowen Basin coal fields to global export markets, playing a vital link in the global steel making and mining chain.

The work will be undertaken by Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure with the expected costs totalling over $250  million.

The project will be funded through a combination of existing debt capacity and internal funds from operations.

“To ensure that the Dalrymple Bay Terminal continues to accommodate metallurgical coal exports from the Bowen Basin for use in steel production that will enable the world’s transition to a low carbon future, DBI

CURTAIN CLOSES ON MT MORGANS GOLD MINE – FOR NOW

Dacian Gold has indefinitely suspended operations at its Mt Morgans operation, citing supply chain and labour challenges.

But the company has indicated that the closure will allow it to reassess and conduct maintenance without the pressure of production costs. In other words, Mt Morgans is closing for a future facelift.

Mt Morgans is located 37km westsouthwest from Laverton in WA.

During its life, the Mt Morgans gold mine boasted the only operating mill of its size in the region not in the hands of

a major miner. The mill was capable of processing around 2.9 million tonnes per annum.

News of the indefinite suspension comes after Dacian announced gold production in the December quarter of 12,039 ounces, down from 21,525 in the September quarter of 2022.

According to Dacian, the operational hiatus will allow the company to improve water security and tailings storage capacity, and assess and develop third-party ore source options. Dacian intendeds to create a lowrisk, sustainable mine plan before Mt

will focus on its investment in the pipeline of NECAP projects required at DBT over the coming years,” Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure managing director and chief executive officer Anthony Timbrell said.

“Our NECAP program will continue to ensure that terminal capacity remains available to meet the needs of our customers while delivering meaningful organic growth for security  holders.”

The terminal is owned by the

Morgans can reopen.

“It was a very difficult decision to suspend operations at Mt Morgans,” Dacian non-executive and independent chair Craig McGown said.

“However, the risks in the current operating environment have been emphasised during our final operating month with a maintenance shut being extended on the back of supply chain and labour shortage challenges.

“We will now balance cash preservation with active exploration and development of a mine plan to support a future restart of operations

Queensland Government and has been leased to Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure on a 50-year lease.

“While our primary goal is to export coal, our terminal is also focused on creating a sustainable future and enriching our local area,” DBT said on its website.

“We place enormous value on our community at Hay Point, and take pride in supporting local projects, community groups, clubs and organisations.”

at Mt Morgans.”

The cost of placing the mine on care and maintenance is estimated at $4–5 million and will be funded from existing cash and gold on hand.

Dacian reports a cash balance of $34.8 million, as well as $2.8 million in gold on hand, at the end of March.

While Dacian has announced that the closure will result in some redundancies, the company plans to work to redeploy employees under a shared management services agreement with Genesis Minerals, its largest shareholder.

DURING OPERATION, MT MORGAN WAS CAPABLE OF PROCESSING AROUND 2.9 MILLION TONNES OF ORE PER ANNUM.

in mining

Demand for minerals combined with declining ore grades is creating new complications for the mining industry, especially when it comes to the environment. The amount of water and energy needed for extraction and processing is increasing, resulting in a growing environmental footprint.

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With MissionZero, our ambition is to deliver innovative and digital solutions to the mining industry that support zero water waste, zero emissions and zero energy waste by 2030

PILBARA MINERALS DOUBLES DOWN ON LITHIUM

The Pilbara Minerals board has approved a capital investment for the P1000 project to increase lithium production at Pilgangoora mine.

The $560 million investment includes an expanded concentrator plant with increased throughput, as well as supporting infrastructure. Spodumene concentrate production capacity is expected to rise by 320,000 tonnes per annum (tpa).

The Pilgangoora lithium project is owned by Pilbara Minerals and located in WA. It is considered to be one of the largest hard rock lithium deposits in the world.

The project is expected to reach full production by September 2025.

The P1000 project will be executed alongside the ongoing P680 project, which aims to add an additional 100,000tpa capacity to Pilgangoora.

The combination of these two assets is expected to raise spodumene concentrate production from 580,000 tonnes per annum (tap) to 1,000,000tpa.

Pilbara Minerals is understood to be considering the benefits of long-term spodumene offtake agreements and Joint Ventures for the P1000  project.

Pilbara Minerals chief executive officer, Dale Henderson, called the P1000 project an important  milestone.

“This expansion step facilitates a major lift in production capacity, capitalising on the substantial scale of this tier-1 hard rock asset,” he said.

“This reinforces the exceptional scale and quality of our Pilgangoora Project, which is one of the few hard rock lithium production operations globally that has both the resource size and an existing operating platform to enable a rapid scale-up of production to capitalise on the

growing demand for lithium products.

“The P1000 investment case is compelling with a payback from this investment expected to be within a year. This further increase in production capacity will cement Pilbara Minerals’ position as a globally significant supplier of lithium materials products delivering into this rapidly growing market.

“The company has received significant inbound interest for further offtake and downstream partnerships, and we have begun exploring options to maximise the  value.”

GRUYERE GOLD MINE PASSES ONE MILLION OUNCE MILESTONE

Gold Road Resources has provided a three-year mine production outlook for Gruyere gold mine in WA.

According to the company, Gruyere mine has produced one million ounces of gold in less than four years of production, at an average all-in sustaining cost of $1399 per ounce. The company expects Gruyere to deliver 2 million ounces in 2025.

Gold Road’s three-year production outlook projects Gruyere to produce between 335,000 to 375,000 per annum. Production estimates

are an increase on earlier years due to higher head grades and improved throughput, thanks to the commissioning of a third pebble crusher in late 2023.

Gold Road also advises that the production outlook requires minimal capital growth.

Gold Road jointly operates and manages the Gruyere mine with its 50:50 partner Gruyere Mining Company. The Joint Venture also completed a feasibility study for Gruyere mine, underpinning the life-

of-mine to 2032.

The feasibility study affirmed a sustainable production rate of roughly 350,000 ounces per annum of gold through to 2023.

Additionally, more than three million ounces of mineral resources have been defined, meaning a possible extension beyond the 2023 lifespan.

Gold Road is now turning its attention to the west, focusing exploration efforts on the nearby Golden Highway project.

Golden Highway has a known

mineral resource of 14 million tonnes at 1.44 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, for 0.67 million ounces. The project also includes an ore reserve of seven million tonnes at 1.29g/t of gold for an additional 0.29 million ounces.

The Golden Highway deposits extend along a 14km strike length. Feasibility level studies for the Golden Highway resources, including additional ore reserve definition drilling, are programmed for 2023.

Mining at the project is set to commence in early 2026.

AUSTRALIA IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST PRODUCER OF LITHIUM.

Large material loading vehicles pose some of the biggest risks on mining sites.

Drive them underground, and you’re contending with added complications such as narrow tunnels and limited vision.

Enter ifm’s infrared 3D imaging technology, capable of detecting people and objects within a wide radius of mobile equipment. This precision guidance tool pairs video overlay from a 2D camera with 3D point cloud into user-friendly concepts, acting as a second pair of eyes for safe navigation.

Avoiding personnel and vehicle collisions just got easier with ifm’s O3M sensor system.

LYNAS LAUNCHES APPEAL FOR MALAYSIA PLANT

Lynas Rare Earths has been granted a six-month extension for processing lanthanide concentrate in Malaysia, effectively plugging the gap in the company’s rare earth supply.

In April, Lynas appealed to the Malaysian Government about unfavourable license conditions that threatened to interrupt its operations.

The license conditions on the company’s Malaysian operations prohibit the import and processing of lanthanide, which will require the closure of the cracking and leaching

component of the company’s Malaysia plant.

Lynas said it appealed the conditions on the basis that they represent a significant variation from the conditions under which it made the initial decision to invest in Malaysia. The new conditions were due to come into effect from July 1, but have now been extended to January 1, 2024.

Cracking and leaching leaves behind low-level radioactive waste, which the Malaysian Government seems no longer willing to tolerate.

OAK DAM GETS THE GREEN TICK

Although the government refused to budge on the conditions themselves, the adjusted timeframe means Lynas can continue to its lanthanide operations up until 2024, effectively plugging a gap in its rare earth supply.

Lynas has been racing to ramp up its Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility which, when complete, will undertake the cracking and leaching of rare earths before sending the intermediate product to Malaysia.

“Planning for feed-on and

production ramp up continues with a focus by the Lynas Kalgoorlie operational team on learning from the significant expertise of the Lynas Malaysia team in all aspects of cracking and leaching operations,” the company said.

As the Kalgoorlie expansion won’t be on its feet until at least August, the company faced a potential three-month void of rare earth supply.

But with the extension of Lynas’ Malaysian license, that issue has now been resolved.

BHP’s Oak Dam exploration program has received environmental approval from the South Australian Government.

Oak Dam is located 65km southeast of BHP’s Olympic Dam mine and is set to be one of the largest mineral exploration programs ever undertaken in the state.

The environmental approval will allow for up to 14 drill rigs, associated core processing facilities and an accommodation camp to house up

we look forward to undertaking further exploration to better define the resource and inform our future planning,” BHP chief operating officer Edgar Basto said.

More than 90km of exploration has already been drilled at Oak Dam, but with the new environmental approval allowing for more than double the

in 2018, with early sampling recording intercepts of copper of up to 6 per cent. The top of the ore body ranges from 700 to 900 metres below the  surface.

It will be an important site for the future as the world looks toward decarbonisation and bolster BHP as it continues on its hunt to find the

region of the state and will invest millions over the next few years as it continues its exploration efforts.

In its recent half-year report, BHP specifically highlighted the growth potential of Oak Dam and outlined plans to continue drilling while engaging with key stakeholders and Traditional Owners.

COPPER IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE TRANSITION TO CLEAN ENERGY.

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH LITHIUM?

IF LITHIUM IS THE PRIZED PONY OF THE CLEAN ENERGY MOVEMENT, THEN AUSTRALIA IS THE ONE HOLDING THE REINS – BUT COULD WE BE DOING MORE?

Lithium – everyone’s heard of it, but just how important is it?

Important enough that US-based Albemarle recently attempted a $5.2 billion takeover of Australian lithium miner Liontown Resources.

Important enough that the Californian Government is in a frenzy trying to convert a shrinking salt lake into the next “Lithium Valley”. Important enough that Pilbara Minerals approved a $560 million expansion of its Pilgangoora lithium project in WA.

So the answer seems to be that lithium is important enough.

The most recent Australia’s Identified Mineral Resources report certainly suggests as much.

The report, published this year by Geoscience Australia, tracked the country’s known mineral resources throughout the 2021 calendar year, shedding some light on important trends in the sector.

Australia came in at number two in the world for known lithium resources

in 2021, falling just short of Chile. But Australia ranks number one in the world for lithium production, responsible for producing 53 per cent of the world’s supply of the mineral in 2021 and 2022.

Global lithium consumption is driven overwhelmingly by the demand for rechargeable batteries, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs). The sale of EVs is projected to balloon tenfold in the next  decade.

At the time the Geoscience Australia report was written, the price of spodumene concentrate – that’s geologist lingo for high-purity lithium – had risen from $US626 per tonne in 2020 to $US1295 in 2021. In 2023, that figure looks more like an average of $US4010 per tonne.

But people won’t need to sell all of their assets to afford a Tesla just yet.

According to the March Resources and Energy Quarterly, the Australian Government expects lithium prices to plateau to a more sustainable level of around $US1700 per tonne by 2025 as more suppliers enter the market.

In the foreword of Australia’s

Identified Mineral Resources report, Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said Australia was blessed with a rich endowment of all the resource needed to make batteries, EV motors, solar panels and wind turbines.

“Our lithium sector is going from strength to strength as global demand surges with the uptake of EVs,” she said.

“We currently produce more than 50 per cent of the world’s lithium from Western Australian mines.”

The problem – as some would call it – is that we currently export lithium in massive amounts. Exports generated $5.3 billion in earnings in 2022, but soaring prices mean that figure is set to more than triple to $18.6 billion this  year.

With cash coming in like that, why do anything differently? While it’s not the easiest hill to die on, the Federal Government is calling onshore lithium processing a matter of national  sovereignty.

“Lithium has an extraordinary capacity, we need to not just dig it up,”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at the National Press Club in February.

“I want to make sure we use the lithium and nickel and other products that we have to make batteries here. That’s part of the vision of protecting our national economy going forward.

OUR LITHIUM SECTOR IS GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AS GLOBAL DEMAND SURGES WITH THE UPTAKE OF EVS. WE CURRENTLY PRODUCE MORE THAN 50 PER CENT OF THE WORLD’S LITHIUM FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MINES.”

“I think we should be making solar panels here. I think we should be making so many more things here in order to

THE MAJORITY OF THE WORLD’S LITHIUM IS EXTRACTED FROM SALT FLATS THROUGH A PROCESS OF PUMPING, EVAPORATION, AND PROCESSING THE LEFTOVER CRYSTALS.

protect our national sovereignty.”

A series of international messes in recent years has taught people the value of a resilient supply chain.

China currently processes 60 per cent of the world’s lithium chemicals, and 80 per cent of the world’s lithium hydroxide. Fortunately for us, China

sources the spodumene it needs to support its cyclopean EV industry almost exclusively from Australia. Less fortunately for us, however, the Chinese Government recently ended cash subsidies for households purchasing EVs. This means that hyper-production at the end of 2022 has resulted in

CEO MIKE HENRY SAID BHP IS HAS CHOSEN TO FOCUS ON COPPER, RATHER THAN LITHIUM, WHEN LOOKING AT CRITICAL MINERALS. (IMAGE CREDIT: BHP)

A SPODUMENE CONCENTRATE REFINERY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

unsustainably high inventories of batteries and EVs, resulting slashed capacity, vendors being forced to sell at high discounts, and lower demand.

All of this drives down the price of lithium, and adds more weight to Prime Minister Albanese’s warning about protecting the national economy. Minister King already touched on as much in her foreword when she discussed Australia having all the materials it needs to produce its own sustainable energy products.

National sovereignty aside, lithium hydroxide was fetching around $US60,000 per tonne at the beginning of the year, meaning there’s an economical aspect to refining our own  lithium.

Although the majority of Australian spodumene goes offshore, “most” does not mean “all”. Lithium hydroxide refineries do exist within Australia, though they are few in number.

Commissioned in 2022 and is jointly owned by IGO and Tianqi, Kwinana in WA was the first lithium hydroxide monohydrate plant in the country. The operation’s two production trains have a capacity of 48,000 tonnes per annum, with a third train due by 2024.

Another such project is Mineral Resources’ (MinRes) and Albemarle’s Kemerton plant, also in WA. Wesfarmers also has its own lithium refinery in Kwinana, which it plans to build by 2024 with partner Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile.

And Liontown has suggested it is considering an integrated lithium hydroxide refinery at its Kathleen Valley  project.

So why do these major international players have a sudden interest in moving their lithium operations further downstream on Australian soil?

It may be to pick up the slack left by the Chinese market, or to better support an expansion into the US and European EV market. The non-insiders can only speculate for now, but it’s certainly interesting.

But lithium – something of a posterchild of renewables – is far from the only option when it comes to sustainable resources. Some miners, like BHP, say lithium isn’t for them.

“There’s a number of dimensions for lithium that don’t quite match up with those requirements from a BHP perspective,” BHP chief executive officer Mike Henry said at a shareholder Q&A in March.

The Big Australian is instead choosing to prioritise copper, another mineral the world needs to meet electrification and power-supply needs.

“Copper’s a bigger industry, both now and in the in the future,” Henry said. “The underlying assets can be quite large-scale, which is wholly aligned with BHP’s capabilities.

“We believe that it’s going to afford better margin potential for the company over time.”

Henry said the company was also choosing to focus on nickel, another future-facing commodity.

“Electric vehicles are actually use a lot more nickel than lithium, and we believe that nickel demand for batteries is going to be pretty durable,” he said.

Australia’s Identified Mineral Resources ranks the country second in the world for copper resources, and eighth in the world for copper production – both highly competitive positions. This is even more so the case for nickel, which ranks number one and number five, respectively. With rankings like that, it’s hard to fault Henry’s  reasoning.

For cobalt – another important battery mineral – Australia ranks second in the world for resources and third in production. There are countless more rankings just like this listed in the report. Without hazarding an exhaustive – and plainly dull – list of all the known minerals and metals deposits in the country, Minister King’s words will have to suffice.

Australia is indeed a well-to-do, resources-rich nation. AM

SPODUMENE IS A HARD ROCK SOURCE OF LITHIUM THAT IS MINED FROM PEGMATITES.

GLOBAL LITHIUM CONSUMPTION IS DRIVEN BY THE DEMAND FOR RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES.

Unleashing a world of opportunity

Schenck Process Mining has become part of Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions

Combining Sandvik’s expertise in crushing with the screening, feeding and loading know-how of Schenck Process, has strengthened our capacity to deliver high quality equipment and aftermarket support.

We are now better positioned than ever, to develop innovative solutions to the challenges of our industry.

A NATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY EFFORT

National Group has implemented a sustainability strategy to assist its customers on their net-zero journey, while also enabling the respected mining services company to achieve its own environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals.

In today’s mining industry, companies must be vigilant about their sustainability performance and need plans in place to refine and optimise this aspect of the business.

This situation is set amid increasing pressures from investors, governments and other stakeholders who are beholden to their own sustainability obligations.

In an effort to get on the front foot, National Group engaged with external ESG experts to develop its sustainability strategy.

“Our main principles are that we stay ahead of the game, we’re cuttingedge and we make sure we’re doing best practices,” National Group head of marketing and partnerships Kain Ford told Australian Mining

“One of the key things we do is ensure our fleet of mining equipment is as modern as possible, because the more modern the fleet is, the more cutting-edge features it has to reduce its environmental footprint.”

National Group partners with leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Caterpillar, Liebherr, Hitachi and Komatsu, who are all proactive about enhancing sustainability performance and are incorporating the latest technologies to do so.

National Group is in the process of fitting its fleet of Komatsu 830-E dump trucks with Cummins’ modular common rail system (MCRS) engines that utilise high fuel pressure and advanced electronics to precisely control the engine combustion process.

The MCRS has been known to create smooth, quiet engine performance and up to two per cent better fuel economy, driving down costs and carbon emissions, while supporting a 10 per cent longer life-to-overhaul.

And Ford said National Group’s sustainability strategy isn’t just limited to improving environmental outcomes.

“National Group’s sustainability strategy also looks at how we can contribute to the communities we’re involved in, more so on the social front of ESG,” Ford said.

“We wanted to hone in on local communities where we’re working and give back to the people that work in those communities. So we’ve been focused on supporting local sporting groups, which has led to some fantastic initiatives over the past

When central Queensland football club Moranbah Bulldogs AFC needed more COVID-safe water bottles in 2021, National Group stepped up to the plate, providing 200 bottles for the club’s juniors during their Australian Football League (AFL) carnival. This was

AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, MOST DISTINGUISHED MINING SERVICES COMPANIES IN AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL GROUP UNDERSTANDS IT HAS A KEY ROLE TO PLAY IN ENSURING ITS SUSTAINABILITY AND ESG PRACTICES ARE FIRST-RATE.

ONE OF THE KEY THINGS WE DO IS ENSURE OUR FLEET OF MINING EQUIPMENT IS AS MODERN AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THE MORE MODERN THE FLEET IS, THE MORE CUTTINGEDGE FEATURES IT HAS TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT.”

NATIONAL GROUP PARTNERS WITH LEADING OEMS SUCH AS CATERPILLAR, LIEBHERR, HITACHI AND KOMATSU TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT.

NATIONAL GROUP HEAD OF MARKETING AND PARTNERSHIPS KAIN FORD.

the Mapoon Indigenous community about 80km north of Weipa on the western Cape York, which sits on the lands of the Tjungundji people.

The Mapoon Community Justice Group was planning a horse-therapy program in the area to combat challenges associated with alcohol, drugs and domestic violence, and needed storage containers to store equipment.

Enter National Group, who – through its work with Rio Tinto’s bauxite mines at Weipa – was able to provide the Community Justice Group with a solution, donating a refurbished 20-foot container and securing another at a subsidised price.

Ford said that while National Group is committed to supporting local communities, it’s also important that values are aligned.

“We want to support organisations and events that have values strongly aligned with those of National Group and our best sponsorships often bring together multiple stakeholders around a common cause,” he said.

“We are committed to supporting remote communities that support us. Many National Group employees live and work in remote towns, so it’s

its sponsorship strategy in 2023, which includes building long-term partnerships in communities with which it operates.

Having already supported the Mapoon Indigenous community through its work in Weipa, National Group will co-sponsor the Weipa Fishing Classic in 2023. The company is also keen to increase its support of health-related charities, particularly mental health.

“Mining can be quite hard on mental health,” Ford said. “A lot of people are doing fly in, fly out (FIFO) and working away from home, and that can be a week, two weeks, three weeks away from family in remote communities.

“We want to ensure our people get all the support they possibly can so they’ve got all the tools they need to help them stay on top of their mental health.

“More broadly, we’re looking at charities that work in this space and whether we can partner with them. It’s something we’re passionate about and Mark (Ackroyd, National Group managing director) is passionate about.

“You’ve got to be happy in your workplace and part of that is also being valued by Mark and all our managers.”

A 100 per cent privately-owned outfit, National Group has big company

experience but a family-owned feel that focuses on the customer.

And as National Group grows, the company is constantly working to maintain this ethos.

“Over the last two years, our workforce has grown significantly, and we’ve had to learn how to develop with that growth ourselves,” Ford said.

“Not everyone can have that direct access to Mark as easily as it was in the past, but we still want to ensure our employees can feel that we are still very much a family-owned company and that the communication path is free flowing from top to bottom.”

National Group’s ability to grow and shift with the times is reflective of its commitment to diversification, which has always been embedded in

decade is diversification,” Ford said. “It’s making sure we diversify on a lot of fronts, including technology, sponsorship, social, whatever that may be.

“We don’t just want to be focused on sport, we don’t just want to be focused on mental health, we want to be focused on a range of different things. This also includes fostering our female workforce as well.”

Diversification could also see the company shift into new commodities as future demand profiles change.

“We are thinking more about how we can help companies in the green-metals space as demand for these minerals grows,” Ackroyd said.

“National Group is exceptionally well placed to provide a full end-to-end solution for companies with greenmetals projects.”

As one of the biggest, most distinguished mining services companies in Australia, National Group understands the positive impact it can have not just on the mine sites where it operates, but in the local communities that depend on those operations.

The company’s sustainability strategy is proof of this methodology in action. AM

IS DIVERSIFICATION. IT’S MAKING SURE WE DIVERSIFY ON A LOT OF FRONTS, INCLUDING TECHNOLOGY, SPONSORSHIP, SOCIAL, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.”

NATIONAL GROUP LAST YEAR DONATED A REFURBISHED 20-FOOT CONTAINER TO THE MAPOON COMMUNITY JUSTICE GROUP IN WESTERN CAPE YORK.

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE DNA

HEXAGON CONSIDERS ITSELF AN ENABLER OF SUSTAINABILITY, DEPLOYING ADVANCED SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT OF ITS MINING CUSTOMERS.

Hexagon’s sustainability efforts are an integrated part of its mining operations, and this holistic approach encompasses its environmental, social and governance impacts (ESG) across the whole value chain.

“Hexagon continues to work in close partnership with mining companies deeply engaged with understanding their environmental footprint and committed to demonstrating what sustainability should encompass,” senior director – ESG Louise Daw told Australian Mining

Hexagon believes its sustainability journey is determined by the role its products and solutions play in the market, as well as its own processes and actions.

Sustainability is a core value and one that is crucial to the company’s success. Its efforts in this vital space have led to increases in profitability and long-term shareholder value.

“At Hexagon, we are constantly asking ourselves – integrated into our strategic thinking and operational planning – what can we change to empower our customers to meet their sustainability objectives?” Daw said.

“Firstly, how can we deploy our smart digital solutions to support our customers’ desire to improve their environmental footprint?

“Secondly, what can we do to enable change through our own actions?”

A key dimension of its customers’ ability to achieve significant sustainability outcomes is embodied in Hexagon’s Power of One.

McKinsey notes that mining is responsible for 4 to 7 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions globally.

considers this along with our global reach as the reason we have the ability to help reduce the global mining GHG,” Daw said.

At its core, the Power of One is a set of holistic solutions connecting all operational processes of a mine, from pit to plant. It does this through a platform that connects all sensors and software with an intelligent monitoring system that can be accessed from the field to the cloud.

“Through a single hardware platform and a single software solution, the Power of One connects all of Hexagon’s mine technologies into one powerful ecosystem, enabling customers to significantly improve their decisionmaking, which positively influences operational productivity, safety and sustainability outcomes,” Daw said.

human rights across its operations and supply chain.

To ensure Hexagon’s suppliers adhere to the same strict standards, all must comply with the code of conduct based on the UN Global Compact principles on human rights, labour conditions and the precautionary principle and responsibility concerning the environment and anti-corruption.

“Hexagon is proud to consider itself an employer of choice and we seek to ensure we have a culturally diverse and inclusive workplace environment across all of our global offices,” Daw said.

“This also extends to Hexagon’s desire to meaningfully engage with communities across various mining regions, ensuring we make a difference in people’s lives by undertaking important socioeconomic development programs.”

Hexagon’s initiatives are aligned with the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals, the Responsible Business Alliance, and the Carbon Disclosure Project, which are representative of a multifaceted approach and commitment to sustainability.

Hexagon’s approach to smart mining is to empower mines to do more with less, and to do it sustainably, by improving safety and increasing efficiency all while accelerating a mine’s journey to carbon neutrality.

Hexagon’s approach to smart mining is to empower mines to do more with less by improving safety and increasing efficiency, all while accelerating a mine’s

on how we can partner with mining companies to build safer, more efficient operations with a reduced environmental footprint. For example, one of our clients, Southern Peru Copper Corporation, was able to reduce their monthly fuel trips from 60 to 22 whilst also increasing production by 11 million tonness,” Daw said.

Hexagon’s mining division recently received the EcoVadis Gold Sustainability rating, reinforcing the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability across planning, operations and safety, while firmly placing it in the top third of assessed mining operators.

The sustainability scorecard that EcoVadis uses recognises performance across 21 indicators in four themes: environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

Hexagon’s mining division was assessed under the ‘manufacturers of computers and peripheral equipment’ category, scoring well above industry standards across all areas.

The division provided evidence of its policies, processes, and progress against key ESG metrics.

“Mining has always focused not only on driving sustainable change via our solutions, but also through our actions,” Daw said.

“We are thrilled to have our efforts acknowledged and will continue to move initiatives forward for our business, the industry and the planet.” AM

HEXAGON PRODUCTS HELP CUSTOMERS IMPROVE THEIR DECISION-MAKING AND POSITIVELY IMPACT PRODUCTIVITY, SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY.

HEXAGON’S POWER OF ONE HELPS MINERS FIND THE BEST WAYS TO INTEGRATE, AUTOMATE AND OPTIMISE CRITICAL WORKFLOWS.

IntelliZone® is a user-friendly proximity detection system that creates shaped and dynamic shutdown/caution/operator zones to enhance miner safety while maintaining productivity.

• IECEx-certified for underground coal in Australia and Queensland since 2018 and EMESRT Level 7 & 9 compliant.

• Shaped-zone technology minimises nuisance alerts - works on standard or articulating equipment.

• Continuous miner operator can stand close to the machine and remain in a safe area.

• Purpose-built for underground mining and can be installed on all mobile equipment.

• 2021 U.S. National Institute for Occupational Health & Safety’s Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovation Award winner.

CAN WE ACHIEVE NET-ZERO BY 2030?

AUSTRALIAN MINING SAT DOWN WITH FLSMIDTH’S HEAD OF LEGAL – APAC TO DISCUSS THE PROSPECT OF MEETING NET-ZERO BY 2030, AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THE MINING SECTOR HAS TO PLAY.

The road to net-zero is a long and potentially arduous one.

It’s a road that requires creativity on a new scale, providing a platform for thought leaders and innovators to think outside the box and design novel technologies and methodologies.

As one of the mining industry’s most prominent original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), FLSmidth is leading mining companies into uncharted territory, where technologies are more instantaneous and interoperable.

It’s a transformation that’s calling on more experts from more industries, with an understanding that achieving decarbonisation requires a group effort.

With new technologies and capabilities come new policies, and for an OEM evolving as rapidly as FLSmidth, it’s critical that the company keeps up with the everchanging regulatory landscape.

As FLSmidth’s head of legal –Asia Pacific, Virna Trout plays an important role in providing timely, efficient and risk-focused advice as the company realises its mission of building a better future for its employees, society and the planet.

Trout has a unique insight into the diplomatic dialogue surrounding decarbonisation, and how governments are evolving to foster investment opportunities and growth for the mining sector.

When asked about the challenges facing the Australian mining sector en route to net-zero, Trout told Australian Mining there was one key limitation.

“FLSmidth sees time as one of the key challenges,” she said. “Copper’s the metal of electrification, and the failure to quickly increase copper production is going to delay the green transition.

“The world understands we need key minerals to support the green transition, yet the development and investment in Australian mines and processing plants is probably slower than it should be.”

So how do we accelerate things? It starts with the dialogue.

“We’re starting the conversation, and that’s the most important part,” Trout said.

“But we need to accelerate the conversation and get governments together with key industry promoters, such as the Minerals Council of Australia and Queensland Resources Council, vendors in the mining industry, and communities.

“We need to acknowledge that there are competing challenges, and that if the global desire is a green transition and sustainability is at the forefront of that, then we’re going to need additional developments in the world, particularly in mining, to be able to get to that end goal.”

From conversation must come action, and Trout is encouraged by some international developments.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS THE REFLUX FLOTATION CELL ARE IMPROVING MINERAL PROCESSING OPERATIONS ON A RANGE OF METRICS.

“The US and Canada have been proactive, implementing bills that support investment,” she said. “That’s your ‘carrot’ approach.

“And then other nations are looking at it from the ‘stick’ approach, such as a carbon tax and penalising companies that aren’t putting innovation in place to reduce their emissions.

“The world’s going down two different tracks to get to net-zero, and both are still aimed at accelerating innovation and accelerating the sustainability journey the world needs to be on to achieve our targets.”

The US has allocated $US370 billion in federal funding to support renewable

energy efforts Through its Inflation Reduction Act, while Canada set aside almost $C83 billion in clean energy tax credits in its 2023 budget.

Australia committed $25 billion to support clean energy projects in its 2022–23 budget, and the Federal Government is now looking to establish a Net Zero Authority to support its aspirations of becoming a “renewable energy superpower”. The new agency will help communities attract new green energy industries and support interested investors, while coordinating government policies and programs to help this effort.

FLSmidth is turning challenges into opportunities through its MissionZero mine, where the OEM is supporting customers with solutions that support zero emissions, zero water waste, and zero energy waste.

Efficiency is at the heart of MissionZero, where mining companies and contractors are not only limiting their carbon footprint but also realising greater productivity.

“We want to be a company that builds a better future for our employees, society and the planet, which is why we’ve got our MissionZero targets and frameworks,” Trout said. “We’ve got a couple of ways where we’re turning challenges into opportunities. We’ve got products and digital solutions that are already in play, such as our REFLUX Flotation Cell (RFC) and our coarseAIR flotation technology.

“We’re also looking at how we can upgrade existing facilities and products to make them more energy-efficient, such as our HPGR Pro solution and thickener improvements through our E-Volute feedwell technology.”

As for FLSmidth’s legal department, the MissionZero mine means supporting patents and other intellectual property protections, while an operational team supports the development and implementation of early-adopter customer contracts for pilot and fullscale test facilities.

“This is important to ensure parties are aligned in their expectations of a facility’s performance targets, which will ultimately result in long-term adaptation,” Trout said. “It’s exciting to work with FLSmidth’s products business to see innovative ideas become reality.”

FLSmidth is also keeping itself accountable.

“Our MissionZero mine deliberately contains unsolved ‘black boxes’ to push us to develop new solutions for the future,” Trout said.

“It’s important to acknowledge that we don’t have all the solutions.

“We’ve got products available and we’re designing new ones, and we want to work with our customers on the next one, the next product we haven’t even thought of yet.”

This is all part of FLSmidth’s overarching goal to be an enabler for its customers and the mining industry at large.

Trout understands that while the mining sector has come a long way in embracing decarbonisation and employing sustainable technologies and practices, it can still do more to foster its image. This is especially important given the industry will play an increasingly critical role in supplying minerals for renewable technologies.

“We really need to sell the fact that we need mining to support the green transition and we can’t get there without it,” Trout said. “The mining industry needs to work on that positive message and sell the good things that we do and how we are part of the solution.

“It’s very easy to say this happened and that happened and it’s still a disaster, and that nobody wants a mine near them because they’re worried about water, and they’re worried about impacts to the environment.

“We’ve got to be out there selling and saying, ‘Well, actually, we’ve got a solution here. We’re actually designing a plant that uses less water. We are actively targeting this to ensure we are reducing our water usage’.

“I think we can be more proactive in our messaging and talk about how we are reducing – through technology that already exists – our water footprint, energy footprint, etcetera.”

In a world where actions speak louder than words, FLSmidth is delivering on its promise to support a decarbonised future, and the mining industry can be thankful it has such a committed ally.

FLSMIDTH HEAD OF LEGAL –ASIA PACIFIC VIRNA TROUT.

THE ‘POWER FACTOR’ OF MONEO

IF A MINING COMPANY WANTS TO GET FULL VISION OF ITS ON-SITE ENERGY USE – TO LIMIT COSTS AND REDUCE ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT – IFM HAS THE PERFECT SOLUTION.

As mining businesses strive to reduce their energy use – to be more sustainable and save on operational costs – ifm’s self-service Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platform, moneo, offers an easy solution.

According to Freddie Coertze, ifm Australia’s national IoT business manager, moneo draws on all the data collected from an industrial power meter, including historical data and livestream analytics, before using artificial

intelligence to provide insights that can be actioned immediately.

“Unlike other systems that only monitor power usage, moneo will measure voltage, current, power factor and harmonics, which are commonly used to identify a lot of mechanical faults,” he said.

“And having these insights available can be hugely beneficial to a mining business.

“For starters, you can determine what your power factor is and if this needs to be corrected.”

Power factor expresses the ratio of actual power used in a circuit compared with the power delivered to the circuit. The higher the power factor, the more energy efficient you are, while a lower power factor indicates inefficiency.

“If I explain this using the beer analogy, true power factor is the useful beer liquid in the glass, whereas the total power delivered includes the useful beer liquid in addition to the foam on top,” Coertze said.

“That foam represents lost or wasted power – energy being produced but not doing any work.

“If your circuit is 100 per cent efficient, then the power that is delivered to you is all useful. It’s the good stuff; the liquid part of the beer. Whereas if a business has a lot of ‘foam’, they are also potentially wasting a lot of money.

“Once you have corrected your power factor, moneo can be used to set a benchmark on that – so you can set limits with moneo to provide ongoing monitoring. And if something changes, such as the condition of a machine or if a motor starts degrading or a circuit is acting out, moneo will actually flag that and let you know that your power factor is out again.”

While power factor is important, Coertze said the moneo toolbox can provide a whole host of insights that can

help mining businesses increase their energy efficiency.

“By having this extended visibility of the energy used at your site, you can actively optimise your system to save power,” he said. “The other aspect with this is the harmonics; this tells you what’s happening with your machines in real-time.”

But Coertze stresses that moneo isn’t just a condition-monitoring tool. It’s a predictive maintenance platform that gives you information well in advance of any event. The point of difference is that moneo has been designed as an out-ofthe-box, all-in-one solution that is easy to integrate with existing systems at a mining operation.

“It comes with the hardware, software and predictive formulas included so you just hook it up to your power meter and it will give you insights straight away,” Coertze said.

“It’s self-service and you can expand easily, or ‘grow as you know’ is what I like to say. For example, you can start with your power meter, but then expand into water tracking for water monitoring or temperature tracking. It’s not limited.

“While other suppliers can perhaps just give you an energy-monitoring platform, moneo can be used to enable a successful predictive maintenance program across your entire facility.” AM

THE IFM MONEO DASHBOARD.

THE MONEO TOOLBOX PROVIDES A HOST OF INSIGHTS TO HELP MINING BUSINESSES BE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.

WITH connected technologies

Harnessing the full power of machine data and site analysis through connected technologies is one of the first steps towards a more sustainable mine site. Reliable telematics systems and connected services can drive actionable changes for improvements in safety, uptime, and fuel efficiency - and are already available with Volvo Co-Pilot.

Together, we have an opportunity to make a difference. CJD Equipment and Volvo CE are ready to assist you on the journey to a carbon free future.

Change starts here and it’s time to take action.

Contact your local branch for more information

CHANGE STARTS HERE – IT’S TIME FOR ACTION

From services that help customers learn more from their operations to innovations that transform the way people work and electric machines that drive the industry forward, change starts with Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) and CJD Equipment.

The journey towards a more sustainable mining industry is well underway. Now, more than ever, establishing long-term partnerships with companies that are passionate about innovation and share your business’ sustainability targets is  crucial.

In 2020, Volvo Group announced its commitment to achieve net-zero value-chain emissions by 2050 as part of its science-based targets. With a goal set for 10 years earlier than the SBTi commitment, Volvo CE is actively pursuing a net-zero target by 2040.

As most Volvo products have an

CONNECTED TECHNOLOGIES CAN DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY, UPTIME AND FUEL EFFICIENCY.

average customer use phase of 10 years, having true net-zero emissions by 2050 means it is necessary that all products delivered after 2040 are carbon-neutral.

CJD Equipment, the Volvo CE national distributor in Australia, is excited to partner with Volvo and its journey towards a net-zero future.

“In the last 12 months, Volvo has taken huge strides in electromobility, alternative fuels, and fossil-free steel, and we are having discussions with customers around the journey CJD Equipment and Volvo are on in this space,” CJD Equipment executive general manager sales and marketing Grayden Leaver said.

Connected technologies

Reliable telematics systems and connected services are extremely powerful tools that can drive actionable changes for improvements in safety, uptime and fuel efficiency, and are already available with the Volvo Co-Pilot

interactive display on Volvo machinery. Harnessing the full power of machine data and site analysis through connected technologies is one of the first steps towards a more sustainable mine site. Volvo Co-Pilot offers real-time insights into the work being performed to ensure the highest standard of efficiency and accuracy in any application.

A suite of applications designed and developed exclusively by Volvo CE to unlock full machine and operator performance potential, Volvo Assist includes Dig Assist for excavators, Load Assist for wheel loaders, and Haul Assist for articulated dump trucks.

First released in 2016, Co-Pilot functionalities are evolving with a focus on providing operators and site managers the tools and information they need to create a sustainable, highly productive, and profitable operation.

One advancement, Volvo CareTrack system, is now fitted as standard on general purpose equipment and

provides access to a wide range of machine monitoring and tracking information for greater insights into machine utilisation.

“CareTrack gives real-time data on machine utilisation, fuel consumption, even excessive idling. It is a truly valuable resource to drive machine efficiency,” Leaver said.

Other digital services, like the new Efficient Load Out function, are making it possible for trucks and excavators to communicate more effectively on the job site. This ensures trucks only depart for their destination once a goal weight has been reached, reducing the number of trips and the associated emissions.

Such incremental improvements can deliver energy efficiencies across all types of sites and machines, whether electric or not. These proven technologies can be implemented immediately and are a major step in the journey towards a carbon-neutral future.

THE WORLD DOESN’T NEED MORE WORDS, IT NEEDS ACTION, AND VOLVO CE AND CJD EQUIPMENT ARE LEADING THE WAY.

Hybrid technology has been around for decades in the automotive industry, and it is now becoming more accessible within the construction and mining industries. Volvo’s unique hydraulichybrid technology is available on the EC300E 30-tonne hybrid excavator, with a plan in place to expand to future excavator models in the coming years.

An uncomplicated system that requires minimal add-on components, Volvo’s hybrid technology is controlled automatically, offering a more sustainable option without the need for additional operator training.

Harnessing the energy generated by the excavator boom-down motions and capturing it hydraulically means this energy can then be used to assist the boom-up motion where the most pressure and power is needed during  operation.

According to Volvo CE, when utilised in high-production dig and dump applications, the EC300E excavator delivers up to 15 per cent reduction in fuel consumption during normal operations, with up to 12 per cent decrease in CO2 emissions when compared to a conventional diesel machine, without any loss of power or  performance.

In addition to hybrid technology, Volvo’s latest machinery is supplied with Stage-V engines as standard to comply with European Union emission regulations. These efficient engines are a more environmentally conscious solution with numerous benefits for mine sites, from reduced emissions to a lower total cost of ownership, increased reliability, and reduced maintenance.

Fossil-free steel

Built in Volvo CE’s facility in Sweden, the world’s first vehicle made of fossilfree steel was unveiled in October 2021 in collaboration with SSAB, demonstrating that a green transition is possible.

a customer a construction machine made with fossil-free steel, and CONEXPO in Las Vegas this year saw Volvo CE hand over the keys of an A30G articulated hauler made from fossil-free steel to a North American customer.

With steel being a major component of all Volvo CE machines, this is an important milestone and a necessary step in achieving net-zero emissions in the value chain.

Electrification

Volvo CE currently offers the widest range of electric compact construction equipment on the market, the company said, with a clear pathway for the development of larger electric  equipment.

applications as the equivalent diesel machines, Volvo CE’s electric compact machines have been commercially available since 2020 in over 22 countries. The electric ECR25 excavator and L25 wheel loader are near identical to their diesel counterparts, in both power and performance, and offer numerous benefits in addition to zero emissions.

According to Volvo CE, some of the most favourable features acknowledged by early adopters include quiet operation, fewer vibrations, reduced operator fatigue, instant torque, and reduced maintenance intervals.

While electric Volvo CE is not currently available in Australia, CJD Equipment is looking to launch the compact range within the next 12 months.

“We are very excited about this project, and we are spending a lot of time with our mining customers in the areas of site management and productivity services to truly understand electric implementation processes and how we can assist with more sustainable options in the industry,” Leaver said.

As part of an ambition to advance its electromobility offering to larger machinery, Volvo CE has also developed a solution to convert the L120 wheel loader to electric and fulfil the market’s appetite for more immediate sustainable solutions in the mid-size machinery  range.

Using the market-recognised diesel machine as the base, the new electric conversion will deliver the same performance with the upside of emission-free. This is planned to be commercially available for selected customers in Europe during 2023, with global expansion in near the future.

Developing battery-electric vehicles and fuel cell electric technology will go a long way to delivering on climate change ambitions; however, more needs to be done.

Perhaps the biggest hurdle lies in changing mindsets, and it’s vital that people understand much of the transformation must come from mining.

Together, CJD Equipment and Volvo CE offer the solutions for a highly productive, sustainable operation, ensuring machines are performing safely and at their very best.

CJD Equipment has an extensive national support network in place to ensure you are well supported, no matter where or when. AM

VOLVO IS COMMITTED TO FOSSIL FREE STEEL.

VOLVO UNDERSTANDS IT IS NECESSARY THAT ALL PRODUCTS DELIVERED AFTER 2040 ARE CARBON-NEUTRAL.

GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY

INX PRESERVE IS A MONITORING SOLUTION THAT DELIVERS DATA AND INSIGHTS TO HELP MINE SITES MEET THEIR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

For over 20 years, INX Software has been one of the leaders in providing environmental, health and safety solutions that drive the creation of safer, smarter and sustainable workplaces around the world. And with the unveiling of its newest software, INX Preserve, it seems the company has no intention of slowing down.

“INX Preserve is a critical tool for environmental advisors to be able to efficiently monitor, track and predict the environmental impacts of a client’s operation,” INX Software product manager Bradley Cobb told Australian Mining.

“It allows environmental experts working with mine sites to record data and derive insights, while also making regulatory reporting much easier.”.

INX Preserve is a software that models field sampling and laboratory analysis processes to monitor the environmental performance of operations at a site. It provides a chain of custody for lab samples, ensuring a reliable and transparent process of regulatory reporting.

“It’s really about assurance the data being captured tells a story that stakeholders can respond to,” Cobb said. The software features comprehensive monitoring functionality, encompassing quality control and assurance processes.

In the event a site exceeds a certain environmental parameter, INX Preserve sends a notification through the system.

“If there are exceedances, operators are notified and can take action to address those issues,” Cobb said.

The software was designed with the input of environmental experts, providing transformative data to help mining industry clients hit their environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets and compliance duties.

“INX Preserve comes at a crucial time for businesses that are serious about backing up their sustainability goals with concrete data,” Cobb said.

INX Preserve was built on the new INX Cloud, which means mine sites and their operators can access the recorded data anywhere securely. The platform is responsive across different types of devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops and desktops.

INX Cloud also features all the usual bells and whistles when it comes to keeping data secure, such as a single sign-on and multifactor authentication.

An important part of INX Preserve, Cobb said, is the fact it is easy to use. The system features out-of-the-box data, including parameters, units of measure and standards, as well as monitoring programs to define license conditions.

“The software is simple to set up and configure,” he said. “It works quickly once out of the box.”

environmental impacts for years. INX Preserve builds on the old, modernising the software and introducing intelligent new features.

There has never been a better time for companies to take the initiative when it comes to hitting their ESG goals.

As the market evolves, ESG targets are becoming much more than just preliminary considerations – they’re integral to a company’s success.

Responsible ESG practices helps a business earn a social license to

relate to profitability.

And intelligent solutions like INX Preserve are the best way for companies to demonstrate a commitment to their ESG targets.

“Environmental monitoring is really the foundational aspect of the ESG platform,” Cobb said.

“Mining companies need real data. They need to avoid this perception of greenwashing by actually being able to substantiate their claims.

“INX Preserve is the tool that gives them access to that data.” AM

INX PRESERVE IS INTELLIGENT SOFTWARE THAT CAN MONITOR, TRACK AND PREDICT A MINE’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

THE SOFTWARE IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MINING OPERATIONS TRANSFORMATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND CLARITY.

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LOW-HANGING CARBON FRUIT

decarbonisation of buildings in the mining and commercial sectors. The company currently has its eye fixed on mining accommodation villages because it sees an opportunity to help the industry achieve quick, visible results when it comes to carbon reduction.

It’s a simple, cost-effective change that stacks up. McLure calls donga optimisation the low-hanging fruit in the fight against climate change.

“Typically, 80 per cent of carbon generated by a donga will come from the electricity required to air-condition it,” McLure said. “Air-conditioning (AC) from a single donga can generate anywhere between 19–56 tonnes of carbon per year.

“My whole argument is that nobody’s looking at the dongas. (They) are absolutely prolific – they’re in the tens of thousands, and they’re all belching out carbon every day.”

Maban’s approach to energy efficiency and lowering carbon emissions is a twopart process.

Firstly, Maban uses Solacoat to paint the walls and roof of a building, which provides moderate insulation and has a high solar reflective surface. This serves to passively reduce heat build-up inside a building.

“Our Solacoat product can reduce the internal temperature by 8–10°C, sometimes more depending on the roof detail,” McLure said.

“For every degree of cooling required, the power consumption of a split system increases by around 10 per cent.

“By using Solacoat to reduce the internal temperature inside a donga, AC can run for longer periods on fan mode at greatly reduced power consumption.”

Maban’s second step is to provide a more efficient means of cooling. The company provides a hybrid solar AC unit that has no need of inverters or batteries, effectively saving thousands of dollars on set-up.

“During the day, the ACs run solely or primarily on free solar power and only use small amounts of power from the utility company as needed in poor weather,” McLure said.

“At night, they will automatically mix power and eventually switch to 240V AC power when needed. They can also be connected to any solar panels.”

The combination of Solacoat and hybrid units effectively reduces the need for AC while also vastly improving efficiency. It’s a simple change with immediate results.

MABAN SERVICES IS OPTIMISING MINING ACCOMMODATION, HELPING MINERS SLASH ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND CARBON EMISSIONS WITH A QUICK AND SIMPLE CHANGE.

SOLACOAT BEING APPLIED TO A ROOF.

“It takes two days to refurbish your donga, and on the second day you’re already reducing emissions by up to 80 per cent.”

and heat mapping for northern Australia every day for the course of a year.

According to the modelling of a typical donga in Karratha in WA,

electricity costs by 70-80 per cent, without even considering the cost savings from carbon credits, which will be reduced by the same margin.

Maban can also tailor these models to clients’ mine sites, providing an estimate of how much each operation stands to gain in terms of energy efficiency and carbon reduction.

But mining operations may not always have the capital on hand to invest in peripheral considerations.

To remedy this situation, Maban, together with Solar ACDC, can offer a rent-to-buy arrangement, allowing the whole cool-roof coating and AC installation initiative to be treated as operational rather than capital expenditure.

“The whole thing is packaged up so that our clients don’t actually have to buy anything; it’s all done in terms of monthly rental payments,” McLure said. “We’ve got a way that they can do it without any up-front capital and where the monthly payments are much less than the cost savings from electricity.”

While reducing operational carbon is Maban’s immediate goal, the company has its sights set on embodied carbon in the near future.

“Embodied carbon is what’s in the donga by the time it arrives on the site and there’s nothing you can do about it,” McLure said. “So in the background, we’re looking at designing low-carbon dongas and whether we can actually make them in northern Australia.

“We’re looking at all sorts of things at the moment, it’s just a matter of viability.” AM

DONGA IS A COLLOQUIAL TERM FOR MODULAR BUILDINGS ABLE TO BE MOVED BETWEEN SITES.

THRIVING UNDER PRESSURE

ATLAS COPCO’S GA RANGE OF OIL-INJECTED ROTARY SCREW COMPRESSORS IS BREATHING LIFE INTO THE MINING INDUSTRY.

Compressed air plays a major role in mining operations, providing compressed air to many applications, from primary crushers to general plant air to shaft ventilation systems.

Atlas Copco product manager Dillon Smith calls compressed air the fourth utility after water, electricity and gas.

Just as companies scrutinise their choice of electricity provider, it’s essential to be choosy when it comes to finding the right air compressor system.

Enter Atlas Copco’s premium range of GA oil-injected rotary screw compressors.

“With up to 80 per cent of a compressor lifecycle cost coming from the energy it consumes, this is a clear focus area of ours – and the mining industry,” Smith told Australian Mining

“The GA range of compressors includes highly efficient oil-cooled iE4 and iE5 motors, providing energy savings compared to less efficient motors.”

The GA range of compressors owes its flexibility in part to the attention Atlas Copco gives its customers.

“We work with the customer to first of all understand their application needs,” Smith said. “From there, we work backwards to understand how much compressed air and what pressure is required for the application.

“We then look at our range of compressors. Each compressor, depending on its kilowatt size, will give you a flow of compressed air at a certain pressure so we ensure that we

match the correct compressor with the correct application.”

Atlas Copco is also helping mining industry clients hit their environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets. By working with its customers to determine the best type and number of air compressors, miners can optimise energy usage and lower emissions.

And the convenience doesn’t stop there. With 150 years of history, Atlas Copco knows the industry’s needs through and through.

“Generally, air compressors require infrastructure such as fixed services, concrete pads or buildings, but you don’t always have that luxury in mining,” Smith said. “Applications shift in location, and so does the need for compressed air.”

To address this issue, Atlas Copco offers a purpose-built 1000-volt air compressor mounted on a heavy-duty skid frame, making it both durable and mobile.

Tough conditions represent another equipment challenge on a mine site. Dust build-up and temperature can take a toll on the best of motors, which is why Atlas Copco’s GA range of compressors is built strong.

“The GA range comes with IP66 protection on the oil-cooled motor and screw element, so unlike a lot of standard

electrical motors – which are cooled via air – Atlas Copco’s GA compressors have an oil-cooled motor which keeps the temperature lower in hot ambient conditions,” Smith said.

“That means they are perfectly suited to our harsh, dusty and hot conditions, as they prevent dust or moisture ingress, which can prevent early failure.

“Atlas Copco’s premium range of GA compressors can also operate 24–7 in temperatures up to 55°C.”

Being an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) means Atlas Copco has the correct solution for each application, so the company can tailor its compressors to suit varying needs. It also means the company has a dedicated research and development division to ensure its products are efficient and reliable.

“We’ve worked very hard on producing these GA compressors to ensure that their service downtime is minimal,” Smith said.

“One example of that is the filter-type cartridges we use within the machine for the oil and air separator.

“Replacing this part would usually take a full day depending on the size of the compressor, but now we can reduce maintenance downtime substantially, meaning greater uptime for the site and operation.”

Atlas Copco compressors also come with the option of a remote energy and maintenance monitoring system called SMARTLINK.

“SMARTLINK allows the customer to view how the compressor is operating in real-time and provide information via various sensors, such as operating temperature,” Smith said.

“This also gives us at data we need on our end to provide updates to our customers, which helps us schedule maintenance.”

And when it comes to maintenance, Atlas Copco has a nation-wide network of factory-trained technicians ready to help at a moment’s notice.

“Being an OEM, our technicians understand our products fully and have the capabilities to service and maintain all products in Atlas Copco’s range,” Smith said.

“A strong local stock of our genuine parts ensures reliability compared to after-market spares. We also locally stock a range of compressors and equipment to support our customers, ensuring minimal disruption to our customers’ operations.

“If customers have a catastrophic failure, we’re able to act very quickly to supply a replacement compressor or item of equipment to quickly and efficiently get the site back into production.” AM

GA COMPRESSORS ARE HELPING THE CHANGING EFFICIENCY NEEDS OF THE INDUSTRY.

Hardox® 500 Tuf is the latest grade of Hardox® wear plate. It combines the hardness of Hardox® 500 with the toughness of Hardox® 450. The wear resistance of Hardox® 500 Tuf makes it possible to increase the load capacity by using a thinner plate and still have the same outstanding service life. Or stay with the same thickness and increase service life by 30% or more.

Hardox® 500 Tuf can also double as a structural steel. Its high yield strength and toughness allow for lighter mining bodies that are resistant to dents and can take impact loads with less supporting structures.

Get the full story of Hardox® 500 Tuf at www.hardox.com

LIGHTER MINING TRUCK BODY

HIGHER LOAD CAPACITY

EXTENDED SERVICE LIFE

LESS FUEL ON EMPTY RUNS

MAXIMISING SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS

DSS+ PARTNERS WITH ITS MINING CLIENTS TO BUILD TAILORED SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES AND ROADMAPS THAT ACHIEVE MEANINGFUL ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES AND CULTURAL CHANGE.

For the team at dss+, sustainability is far more than simply mitigating risk. It is a fundamental component in creating positive environmental impact, as well as opportunities for increased business growth and value.

Many mining companies require clearly defined sustainability strategies and roadmaps to achieve environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability goals.

But despite the effort to drive ESG performance from across the sector, there remains a lack of effective environmental commitment from some operators.

Moreover, recent ‘greenwashing’ scandals have further increased the level of scrutiny, as well as a demand for more standardised, detailed and transparent reporting requirements of ESG performance and impact.

“Being truly sustainable goes far beyond greenwashing; it is a fundamental lever for operational success,” dss+ director Australia and New Zealand Andrew Wilson told Australian Mining.

“Merely achieving regulatory compliance is not the same as embracing sustainability as a key dimension of a successful business strategy.”

This essentially means mining operators must place an emphasis on sustainability as a core value, rather than it simply being an important priority.

“When it comes to achieving significant sustainability outcomes within the mining industry, operators must move beyond traditional approaches such as undertaking capital expenditure to solve their immediate problems, and instead embrace a culture that places sustainability front of mind,” Wilson said.

“For many mines it will require a significant cultural shift to deliver the change that is required, and this often means integrating a sustainability mindset into the line organisation and for the line to take on that responsibility with the same degree of rigour as it might take on the cost of production.”

dss+has the ability to meet mining operators at any point on their sustainability journey. Expert consultancy teams can provide strategic guidance and operational insights on managing

risk, optimising sustainability processes and practices or establishing impactdriven solutions. Industry-leading practices developed by dss+ have been achieved with propriety solutions, and the company’s consultants endeavour to link strategic approaches to the core vision and purpose of a mining operation.

dss+ can clearly identify material ESG issues, build complete strategy frameworks, define key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets, and produce a detailed roadmap to achieve meaningful outcomes.

The dss+ team will work with mining clients to ensure solutions are grounded in an understanding of stakeholder expectations, business processes and workplace culture.

By leveraging academic insights and combining them with strategic expertise, dss+ delivers end-to-end solutions that fully incorporate the intergradation of sustainability solutions into their client’s operations. The company can also help clients achieve B-Corp certification and seek financing mechanisms that help them maintain lasting sustainability impact across the value chain.

“If I’m a mining organisation that values sustainability, holds it as a core value, makes operational decisions that are visible, clear and aligned to a sustainability strategy, greater efficiencies, lower costs and stronger yields will flow,” Wilson said.

“As talent attraction and retention continues to be an ongoing issue for the wider resources sector, external motivators are increasingly important, as a younger generation of workers wants to be satisfied that the mining organisation they are working for is committed to lowering its environmental footprint and is actively engaged in sustainable processes and practices.”

dss+ believes that being effective when it comes to sustainability is about being a good operator.

“The key message is that if a business embraces sustainable processes and practices, then they will experience a range of benefits from greater efficiencies, lower machine downtime and reduced safety incidents, and that it will exist into the future,” Wilson said.

“That it is literally sustainable.” AM

DSS+ IS COMMITTED TO HELPING CREATE STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE ESG AND SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

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OPTIMISED REHAB BUILD AND MANAGEMENT

UTILISING TECHNOLOGY FOR IMPROVED OUTCOMES WHEN A SITE REACHES THE END OF ITS LIFE.

Mine site rehabilitation is a critical aspect of sustainable mining practices. In Australia, the ability to demonstrate a proven track record of effective land stewardship is increasingly becoming a minimum qualification for land access consideration.

In 2019, the Australian Government passed new legislation that requires site-specific mines to prepare a progressive rehabilitation and closure plan (PRCP). These must include binding, time-based milestones.

As a key performance indicator of a company’s environmental and sustainability practices, early planning and continuous improvement for rehabilitation processes benefits all

stakeholders, including companies, governments and communities.

The Australian Government identifies five key stages of effective rehabilitation planning and implementation in its 2016 Mine Rehabilitation Handbook:

• Rehabilitation objectives and targets

• Rehabilitation planning

• Rehabilitation techniques

• Completion criteria

• Rehabilitation management and monitoring

Landform design and construction is defined as a core stage of the rehabilitation techniques stage of a project. Optimised landform design and construction results in improved landform stability, the ability to meet or exceed regulatory standards, increased community acceptance, and reduced cost to build.

Australia operates many of the largest mine sites in the world, which makes effective rehabilitation all the more important. Landform construction at scale is a lengthy and costly process where any and all operational improvements result in significantly improved outcomes, lower costs and less rework.

Getting the design and material movement strategies optimised at the outset can lead to significant cost savings for dozer push work. By mathematically simulating the movement of material in the office, budget costs, construction review and scheduling information can be created, evaluated and refined with the aim of reducing or eliminating rework in the field.

According to Position Partners mining executive manager Andrew

Granger, in order to fully realise these design benefits, it’s essential that they are followed and constructed accurately in the field.

“Complementing an optimised rehab design with high-precision machine guidance technology provides live updates for operators with their exact position relative to design,” he said.

“Without the time lag of waiting for as-built survey data, operators can get the work done right the first time, saving on fuel and machine wear in the process.”

High-precision machine guidance technology can be leveraged to ensure on-site work is completed to specification, reducing rework and improving accuracy of the rehab build. Position Partners has successfully deployed high-precision machine

MINE REHABILITATION IS THE PROCESS OF RESTRUCTURING AND REJUVENATING LAND AFTER MINING.

guidance on several Australian rehabilitation projects ranging in scale and complexity.

“Our team works collaboratively with third-party design specialists, enabling customers to bring their optimised designs to life through accurate guidance on machines,” Granger said.

Machine guidance utilises a combination of high-accuracy global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) to give operators near real-time visualisation of their position relative to design. Sensors mounted to the machine blade provide centimetre-level guidance on distance to grade, with directional push arrows and intermediate surfaces to guide through each stage of the job.

“By moving material as efficiently as possible with minimal rehandling, customers save time and fuel, reduce machine wear, and end up with a more stable and accurate landform,” Granger said.

Accurate construction significantly reduces not only build costs, but also maintenance costs. Problems with erosion, berm failures, tunnel erosion and overtopping due to sediment can all be mitigated through accurate material placement and construction during the landform build with machine guidance.

Machine guidance solutions can be fitted to any make or model of machine, Granger said, enabling the same efficiency gains and accuracy benefits on a mixed fleet of equipment.

Throughout the construction process, companies outline their capabilities to support customers with any design change requirements or technical troubleshooting.

“It is not uncommon for in-field conditions to change, requiring modifications to the design due to unexpected material swelling and/or compaction,” Granger said.

“Engineers can remotely send design file updates to multiple machines simultaneously, ensuring operators are always working to the current version.”

With a large team of technical experts, Position Partners offers remote phone and web-based support, as well as boots-on-the-ground services for machine guidance customers, with coverage in all states and territories.

Managers can have full access to an array of data insights, helping to facilitate proactive project management and strategic planning. Dashboards provide quick, easy-to-read visual reviews of production rates, good and bad production areas, areas and volume of rehandle, and task ratios (pushing:ripping).

“Position Partners can work with clients at all stages of a rehabilitation project, customising technology to suit each site’s unique topography, desired outcomes and specifications,” Granger said.

REHABILITATION NURSES THE LAND BACK TO AN AGREED-UPON STATE.

DESTINATION ZERO: CRACKING THE CARBON CODE

The high-horsepower diesel engine is just one aspect of many in the complex picture of sustainability in the mining industry.

It’s an important one, nonetheless, due to its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric pollutants while powering the mighty machines involved in the extraction of natural resources as the global demand for minerals and energy rises.

The willingness of mining companies around the world to reduce their environmental footprint is seeing massive changes in the pipeline as decarbonisation gathers momentum.

And in Australia, the efforts of major iron ore and coal miners in reducing their carbon footprint are well documented.

Cummins’ stance is clear, as outlined by chief executive officer Jennifer Rumsey.

“We recognise that Cummins and our industry contribute to the need to address climate change,” she said. “With 12 million engines in the field today, we (at Cummins) have an opportunity to make a significant impact by being part of the solution.”

With its Destination Zero strategy, Cummins is committed to net-zero carbon by 2050.

The strategy calls for improving the company’s core products today to reduce carbon while bringing to market the zero-carbon technologies that will power

tomorrow. Among the goals is a 25 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions from newly sold products by 2030.

Rumsey emphasised that making existing technologies more efficient is an important step in getting to net-zero.

“We can make a big difference by improving the efficiency of diesel engines in the next decade,” she said.

“Those products will be out there for many years beyond that. We shouldn’t just focus on zero only; we need a combination of advancing zero and improving the engine-based products that we have today.”

The majority of high-horsepower Cummins engines sold into mining in Australia today have Tier 4 architecture, meaning industry-leading reductions in CO2 and diesel particulate emissions.

Diesel engines certified to Tier 4 meet the most stringent off-highway emissions in the world.

While exhaust emissions from offhighway equipment are still unregulated in Australia, Cummins has developed a double-edged solution for its latest generation high horsepower engines like the QSK50 and QSK60.

Both are available with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) exhaust after-treatment technology for Tier 4 compliance. Even without SCR, the engines retain Cummins’ advanced Tier 4 architecture, which means a host of product improvements, the company

efficiency and reduce emissions.

According to Cummins, the cleanest high-horsepower diesel engines operating in mining in Australia today are its QSK50 and QSK60 Tier 4 units powering haul trucks and excavators in the NSW Hunter Valley. These are the only high-horsepower engines operating in Australia with full Tier 4 compliance.

In fact, Cummins’ entire highhorsepower QSK range spanning 19L, 23L, 30L, 38L, 50L, 60L, 78L and 95L is now offered with Tier 4 compliance using SCR technology.

Cummins also recently announced that its top-rated engine, the 4400hp QSK95, can safely be used with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) – or ‘renewable diesel’ – without affecting its Tier 4 emissions compliance. Cummins’ full range of high-horsepower engines is expected to be approved for HVO use in 2023.

HVO is made from vegetable oils and animal fats and oils, reducing well-towork carbon intensity by up to 90 per cent compared to conventional diesel fuel. HVO’s chemical and physical properties are like those of diesel fuel, but its fossil-free composition and low carbon content provides a simple and efficient alternative to diesel.

This initiative is a strong example of Cummins’ overall commitment to develop decarbonisation solutions and

current technology to achieve emissions reductions.

The challenge for Cummins is developing a wide variety of carbonreduction solutions that meet the unique needs of its customers across many markets. These solutions include internal combustion (clean diesel, hydrogen and natural gas), alternative fuels, hybrid, battery-electric and fuel-cell electric.

Cummins is a strong advocate of hydrogen fuel technology and is collaborating with major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to advance the development of zeroemission mining haul trucks using hydrogen fuel cells.

The company has already deployed several thousand fuel cells in on-highway and off-highway applications and has hundreds of active electrolysers around the globe, turning water into hydrogen through the process called electrolysis.

The company recently announced it will supply a 90-megawatt proton exchange membrane electrolyser system for Varennes Carbon Recycling’s plant in Quebec, Canada.

The project, which will be the largest electrolyser project Cummins has announced to date and a key step in advancing North America’s hydrogenbased economy, will help turn nonrecyclable waste into biofuels and circular chemicals. AM

MINERS IN AUSTRALIA TAKE UP THE SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE AND JOIN CUMMINS ON THE PATH TO ZERO EMISSIONS.

IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF DIESEL ENGINES IN THE NEXT DECADE IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN GETTING TO NET-ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050.

A TIER 4 QSK60 ENGINE.

A SINGLE SOURCE OF TRUTH

ACQUIRE SITS AT THE FOREFRONT OF DEVELOPING GEOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY.

The Australian resources sector exists in a complexityrich environment, with the need for accessible, timely and trustworthy data that is essential for decision-makers at all levels.

Operating within increasingly rigorous compliance regimes, mining companies across Australia and around the world have come to rely upon acQuire’s sophisticated data management tools.

Accessible, timely and trustworthy geoscientific and environmental information is critical as miners strive to achieve positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) outcomes and sustainability goals.

“Data has to be used to be useful, and it can only be used if it is easily located, easily understood, and if it can be trusted. Unless those things are in place, then the data is worthless,” acQuire’s director of product Steve Mundell told Australian Mining.

“If important geological or environmental data has been collected yet is squirrelled away in difficult-tolocate storage drives or spreadsheets and hasn’t been verified or validated, nor successfully incorporated into larger data sets, then it’s of little use.”

One of key data management products that acQuire has developed for the mining industry is GIM Suite. This sophisticated platform provides a standardised architecture and single source of truth for the many forms of geological data – observations and measurements – captured through the process of mineral exploration or mining operations.

“GIM Suite is a premier solution and is primarily focused on the management of geological data, including original observations and measurements, which underpins every model, every estimation and every investment that mining companies or third parties make in a project,” Mundell said.

The information derived from smart mining techniques, processes and practices forms part of a wider ecosystem that, when properly integrated, can inform optimisations across the entire value-chain.

“Every deposit that is reported forms a geological picture, and that crucial data informs a model which defines the value of the resource and GIM Suite ensures that the data can be trusted,” Mundell said.

“GIM Suite ensures critical geological data is managed effectively, and for mining organisations required to operate within strict governance frameworks, the platform provides the ability to clearly demonstrate compliance as any stored data is auditable, a key attribute for governance.”

The ability to apply validation rules from the point of capture ensures no corrupt or incorrect data gets stored, regardless of from where it has been sourced and by whom.

“From past experiences of encountering corrupt data, either captured incorrectly, managed incorrectly, partially lost and spread out over multiple mobile devices, it was clear that a fully integrated geological data management platform could solve many data management issues,” Mundell said.

GIM Suite can be scaled without custom-coded development, regardless a mining operation’s size, and ensures data quality is not compromised.

The other key data management product acQuire developed for the mining industry is EnviroSys.

“EnviroSys is an environmental data management system – built with a quality and compliance-focused architecture – for organisations to effectively manage their environmental obligations,” Mundell said.

“In real-world mine settings, any tenement, any lease, any operation will have an environmental license attached to it with strict obligations that the mining company will have to meet across multiple regulatory levels.

“So in order to understand if a company is meeting its environmental obligations – in essence, is complaint –the ability to effectively capture, validate, monitor, analyse and report any type of environmentally-related data is critical.

“EnviroSys can be tailored to allow mining companies to manage an assortment of different data monitoring fields, including air quality,

ground, surface and potable water, meteorological conditions, noise, waste, emissions, soil, land disturbance and rehabilitation activities.”

In a mining context, EnviroSys has the capacity to provide automated two-way data flows to sites such as laboratories and across other Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors, business intelligence units and corporate reporting systems, as well as many other third-party applications.

EnviroSys can also integrate with other internally hosted cloud-based systems and processes upon which a mining operation relies.

Today, acQuire has five international offices with support centres operating in each major time zone.

“As a Perth-based organisation with a global footprint, we are proud to partner with mining operators, regardless of their size and location, to assist them manage their mine and environmental data assets,” Mundell said. AM

ACQUIRE’S ENVIROSYS ALLOWS MINING COMPANIES TO MANAGE DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL DATA MONITORING FIELDS, INCLUDING SURFACE AND POTABLE WATER.

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LIGHTING THE WAY

EARTHTRACK GROUP IS A LEADING SUPPLIER OF SPECIALIST LED AND SOLAR LIGHTING EQUIPMENT DESIGNED FOR MINE SITES THAT NEED RELIABLE, LOW-MAINTENANCE AND EMISSIONS-FREE SOLUTIONS.

As sustainability remains a significant focus of the Australian mining industry, solar technology is increasingly viewed as a viable way to achieve meaningful emission reductions.

Since 2012, Earthtrack has been partnering with mining industry customers to support their emission reductions efforts through the provision of reliable, versatile, lowmaintenance and cost-effective solarpowered LED lighting.

“Earthtrack’s signature mega, maxi and mini solar towers, designed for off-grid sites, are manufactured in Australia and capable of operating in harsh and remote mining environments with ISO 9001 quality assurance,” the company said.

With an experienced in-house design team, Earthtrack can also provide tailored, site-specific solutions that are safe and are easy to install. Lighting designs and site audits can assist with understanding where lighting can be improved.

The Earthlight solar mega towers offer extra powerful and reliable flood lighting up to 47,000 lumens, with the units featuring four heavy-duty solar panels.

“They are a great solution for solarpowered, energy-efficient LED lighting to help your site become carbon-neutral,” the company said.

“Going solar eliminates electricity, trenching and cabling costs which can be significant on a remote site, and the benefits of low-voltage solar systems also makes them safer.

“Using Earthlight solar mega towers means your site can operate 24–7, with low maintenance and easy-to-install lighting. Lights will switch on and off automatically and there is no timeconsuming diesel refuelling required, no noise and absolutely no fumes or smoke.”

These operational benefits extend across the Earthlight maxi and mini solar towers. The maxi tower provides 3–4 days’ autonomous use without sunlight and is manufactured for C-class harsh environments.

Earthtrack recently launched an addition to its remote range – the Elion solar street light tower.

Elion represents a new generation of powerful and reliable streetlight, offering up to 12,000 lumens in singular model and 14,000 lumens in twin model.

The unit features whisper-quiet operation and zero carbon emissions, and is renewable-energy-powered for maximum environmental benefits.

“Elion can be installed in-ground or on a concrete block, with a pole-mounted secure control box and high-powered lighting powered by long-lasting lithium batteries,” the company said. “This results in the capacity for a site to operate

24–7 with low maintenance easy-toinstall lighting.

“The efficient lithium battery storage means that site workers will have a few days of lighting even if there are a few days of bad weather or low sunlight.”

A solution specific to the mining industry is Earthtrack’s Kestrel conveyor light series, which offers a wide range of options, including standard emergency battery back-up, amber animal-friendly options, green-chip eyewash and solar models. The costeffective bat-wing design offers ultimate quality and reliability, the company said.

Earthtrack has also created a range of high-performance products designed to perform around hazardous or explosive materials, high temperatures, water, moisture and dust exposure, high vibrations or impact-prone areas for underground mining, oil and gas, and other industrial applications.

The company’s high bays are work lights used to illuminate areas with high ceilings, such as industrial workshops, sheds, critical operation applications, and warehouse-area lighting.

Importantly, LED high bay lights save money and power, are low maintenance and, according to Earthtrack, are 50 per cent cheaper to run than conventional metal halide work lights.

“Whether you’re after general commercial LED work lights or specific industrial LED lights in Australia, you can trust Earthtrack’s quality site lighting solutions,” the company said.

“We’re leading the way in LED work lights in Australia, with a wide range of products to suit every client’s requirement. Our LED work lights mean lower costs and maintenance.

“Add in compliance with Australian Standards, and you have a solution that makes sense.” AM

EARTHTRACK PARTNERS WITH MINING CUSTOMERS TO PROVIDE RELIABLE AND ENERGYEFFICIENT SOLAR-POWERED LIGHT TOWERS.

THE ELION SOLAR STREET LIGHT TOWER IS RELIABLE, QUIET AND POWERED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY.

DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE MINE REHABILITATION

Mine rehabilitation is the treatment and management of disturbed land or water for the purpose of establishing a safe and stable environment. Mining rehabilitation covers demolition of infrastructure, remediation of contaminated land, establishing a final landform, and revegetation. It can be carried out during mining operations or once operations have ceased.

Thiess Rehabilitation offers a full suite of mine rehabilitation services by miners who are also environmental experts. The Thiess Rehabilitation team provides technical and operational expertise backed by whole-of-mine-life knowledge. The company takes the responsibility of mine rehabilitation out their client’s hands, allowing them to devote their attention to mining.

and the parameters that are clientspecified, legislated and stipulated in the environmental approvals for the site. What we do first, is look at the surface of the mined land and determine an effective, suitable and efficient final landform design. We then agree on a design and reshape the mined land, incorporating drainage features as required, replace topsoil, and plant agreed upon species back to the rehabilitated surface.

We typically rehabilitate the sites back into grazing land or native ecosystems, in accordance with the required end land  use.

How did Thiess Rehabilitation begin?

It was born out of a notion that the value in mining isn’t fully realised until – from a sustainability point of view – the land is returned to a sustainable state.

Can

you tell me a bit about Thiess Rehabilitation?

We’re a standalone rehabilitation business set up within Thiess. We offer an end-to-end rehabilitation service for mine sites, which covers planning and design through to the construction and monitoring and maintenance of mine  rehabilitation.

current, disturbed mine surface

Thiess has delivered award-winning rehabilitation and industry-leading rehabilitation globally for more than 30 years. And the idea of launching Thiess Rehabilitation was to leverage all the good work we’ve done as a company

A great example of that is we’re now mimicking natural landforms in land rehabilitation, so not just doing very standard or modular-type design, but actually incorporating more natural features into the rehabilitation.

Historically, the easiest way to profile mined land was to form a moderately graded slope and install some contour banks. But now we’re looking at how to incorporate the slopes and the dips into more natural designs that mirror the surrounding landforms.

Is there a rehabilitation project of which you’re particularly proud?

Some of the work that Thiess has done in the Hunter Valley (NSW) since the mid-90s has been industry-leading practice.

Working with our client at a particular site, we’ve been able to

AUSTRALIAN MINING SAT DOWN WITH THIESS REHABILITATION GROUP MANAGER JAMES ANDERSON TO DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF A MINE’S LIFE.

THIESS REHABILITATION RECONSTRUCTS NATURAL LANDFORMS, INCLUDING CONTOURS, PEAKS AND VALLEYS, TO PROVIDE BETTER LONG-TERM LANDFORM STABILITY.

THIESS REHABILITATION GROUP MANAGER JAMES ANDERSON.

complete rehabilitation right up against a state forest in the area. That project actually kicked off in the mid-90s, and then rehabilitation kicked off a couple of years after that. It’s received a number of awards for the quality of the  rehabilitation.

And now what we’re seeing is that the rehabilitated land is practically indistinguishable from the state forest which abuts up against the mine, so much so that native species are migrating from the state forest to the rehabilitated land.

that we’ve done near Muswellbrook

landform. The advantage of this is that we’ve been able to operate a mine in close proximity to Muswellbrook township.

And if you were to look out at the mine from Muswellbrook, you’d see a

Our clients are mining companies and their business is focused on mining – as it should be.

And what we’re doing with Thiess Rehabilitation is saying, we can take

We put in place a long-term, structured plan for how our clients can meet their rehabilitation commitments.

Our end-to-end capability is a powerful asset for our clients in the rehabilitation space because it allows them to focus on mining while we take care of the rest.

What’s the benefit of working with an organisation as large as Thiess?

It’s easily the access to all of the knowledge that we have available through Thiess. Whether it’s the planning, advanced equipment strategies, safety performance, technology, we’ve got a lot of knowledge and expertise as a mining services brand and Thiess Rehabilitation has access to all of it.

What does the future hold for Thiess Rehabilitation?

There is increasing demands on mine operators around completing quality mine rehabilitation. Whether that be legislative commitments, whether it be stakeholder expectations, the focus on mine rehabilitation is certainly increasing. What we want to do is create a value proposition for our clients where they can come to us and we can really provide a value added mine rehabilitation service. That way our clients can focus on their core business of mining.

This transcript was slightly edited for length

THIESS’ PAST REHABILITATION PROGRAMS HAVE SUPPORTED THE RETURN OF LOCAL THREATENED SPECIES, INCLUDING THE SPOTTED-TAILED QUOLL.

THIESS REHABILITATION HAS WORKED IN THE HUNTER VALLEY, REHABILITATING A MIX OF NATIVE FOREST, OPEN WOODLAND AND PASTURE.

AI-ENHANCED OPERATIONS

ASPENTECH IS PROVIDING INTELLIGENT DIGITAL SOLUTIONS TO THE MINING INDUSTRY, HELPING REDUCE DOWNTIME AND EMISSIONS WHILE MAXIMISING ASSET PERFORMANCE.

“A particular mining client was having difficulty predicting when maintenance was required on their trucks, resulting in frequent breakdowns and increased maintenance costs,” Richardson said.

“By implementing Aspen Mtell, the company was able to analyse sensor data from the trucks and develop predictive models called agents that could accurately forecast maintenance needs.

“This allowed the company to proactively schedule maintenance, reducing unplanned downtime and improving overall equipment reliability.”

Aspen Mtell is also making operations safer. In one instance, the software flagged a failure in a customer’s oil heater.

“The integration of AspenTech APM and APC solutions ensures that mining companies can achieve their sustainability objectives while remaining competitive in an uncertain economic environment.”

Energy efficiency and safety play a huge role in achieving environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets, meaning solutions like Aspen Mtell are vital for staying competitive in an evolving mining market.

Mobile and fixed equipment plant maintenance is one of the costliest parts of a mining operation. This stems from the fact that site operators typically rely on preventive maintenance schedules designed by the original equipment manufacturer.

But this system is too rigid to depend on, and can fail to account for variations in the use of equipment, different working environments and the effects of extreme weather. It’s the equivalent of ignoring the warning light in a car because it’s still got three months until the next service.

There is a better way of doing things, and it’s called prescriptive maintenance. AspenTech’s Aspen Mtell solution offers the mining industry exactly that.

Aspen Mtell is a predictive and prescriptive maintenance solution that uses machine learning to monitor equipment in real-time for imminent and future failures.

“Companies are facing increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and improve operational efficiency in order to meet global climate targets,” senior industry marketing consultant for AspenTech, Brandon Richardson, told Australian Mining. “To deal with these challenges, many companies are turning to digitalisation  solutions.

“AspenTech offers advanced digitalisation solutions specifically designed to assist companies in the mining industry to achieve their sustainability goals and improve operational efficiency, while also minimising costly environmental and safety risks.

“AspenTech’s asset performance management solutions provide a

comprehensive suite of tools, including Aspen Mtell, to monitor and optimise performance of mining assets.”

By monitoring machine performance round-the-clock, the Mtell software can recognise patterns indicative of degradation and impending failure. These early warnings give site operators the chance to plan maintenance weeks – and sometimes months – ahead, rather than reactively working through equipment failures at the expense of time and money.

“The high costs associated with maintenance, repairs, and downtime can be a significant burden for mining companies,” Richardson said.

“AspenTech helps address these challenges by providing predictive maintenance solutions that can reduce downtime and maintenance costs.”

Aspen Mtell has been tried and tested in the field, and the results speak for themselves.

“In those types of industrial machines, a failure would have meant hot oil vaporising cold water, which would have caused a rapid steam explosion,” Richardson said.

“A failure would have had catastrophic safety implications, but thanks to Aspen Mtell, the site operator was able to take pre-emptive action and avoid an accident.”

Aspen Mtell pairs well with another AspenTech solution, known as advanced process control (APC). APC provides real-time control and optimisation of equipment, helping mining companies make their operations run as efficiently as possible.

“APC enables mining companies to optimise their production processes and reduce energy consumption,” Richardson  said. “AspenTech APM and APC solutions help mining companies to make data-driven decisions that improve process efficiency, optimise production, and reduce environmental impact.

And ESG targets are much more than just a peripheral consideration. There is tangible value for mining companies in maintaining safe and responsible worksites, and in reducing emissions in line with the global push for net-zero.

Social and environmental practices are becoming essential for mining companies to secure a social license to operate. Demonstrating such responsibility helps project approvals go smoother, which directly translates to a faster timeline and profitability.

In this way, intelligent solutions like AspenTech APM and APC not only help keep expenses under control, but add real value for AspenTech’s mining industry clients.

“AspenTech is committed to helping its clients in the mining industry achieve sustainable, cost effective, and optimised operations,” Richardson said.

“The company has a network of experts of who can provide support and guidance throughout the implementation process, ensuring clients get the most out of their investment.” AM

ASPEN MTELL IS A PREDICTIVE AND PRESCRIPTIVE MAINTENANCE SOFTWARE.

INTELLIGENT SOLUTIONS ADD REAL VALUE FOR MINING INDUSTRY CLIENTS.

When you picture an autonomous mine, what do you see?

autonomous haul trucks worldwide

If you see an endless stream of driverless trucks on the mine site, think again.

Advances in Komatsu’s autonomous haulage system and teleoperation excavator mean transitioning upskilled personnel from cab to control room. This evolving and expanding mining technology is helping to redefine mining and boost productivity.

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OPERATIONALISING ESG

According to Epiroc company MineRP, many mining companies are caught between making sincere, yet unfounded environmental, social and governance (ESG) promises and creating vague, after-the-fact ESG reports.

If a company doesn’t have the processes in place to plan and then monitor its ESG deliverables at a detailed level, how can it expect to deliver an accurate, evidenced ESG report?

This is the conundrum that MineRP is trying to solve.

As a respected software company, MineRP is strongly placed to deliver on this objective, leveraging its reputation, technology and domain expertise to enhance ESG monitoring and analysis in the mining sector.

For mining companies keen to gain greater clarity around their ESG performance, MineRP urges them to operationalise their ESG commitments and infuse ESG into the way they plan, strategise, operate and report.

“Operationalisation simply entails baking ESG commitments into detailed mine plans, so that even small changes to plans or standard operating procedures can be assessed proactively, keeping the company on track ESG-wise.” MineRP vice president marketing Empie Strydom told Australian Mining

Mine plans should be optimised for production, profit and ESG targets, while every planned activity should take place with ESG outcomes in mind.

This way when the time comes for a company to prepare and release a report – whether it be a quarterly, halfyear, annual or sustainability report – it has the data and insights to deliver the honest, transparent ESG reporting that shareholders need to see.

Optimising ESG monitoring isn’t just limited to infusing ESG into day-today operations, but also redefining the concept of value.

This is where MineRP’s Triple Balance Sheet enters the picture.

“Through our platform, we enact a company’s strategy through three lenses – the science of mining, the business of mining, and the conscience of mining,” Strydom said.

“The conscience of mining recognises that ESG is intangible and doesn’t intrinsically have a currency, therefore making it difficult to transact or enable. But if we can give ESG a currency, it can be transacted through balance sheet and income statement fashion.

“Hence the Triple Balance Sheet.”

Whether it be the share price, market capitalisation or net present value (NPV), there are several metrics to understand the value of a mining company. But does this value remain the same when its ESG performance is factored in?

Strydom used an example to elaborate on the idea.

“I have three mines – mine A, B and C – and each one of those produces one ounce of gold,” he said.

“But how about if each of mine A, B and C had a different carbon footprint – mine A has a minus-50 carbon footprint, mine B has a net-zero carbon footprint and mine C has a plus-50 carbon footprint.

“How would the market appraise each of these companies? More specifically, would you be able to measure this difference in the price the market would be willing to pay for an ounce of gold from that company, or the directly attributable costs associated with each produced ounce?

“Research shows that mines with more mature ESG practices do not only win the admiration of investors and other stakeholders but are demonstrably more productive than their peers.”

Under the Triple Balance Sheet premise, when a mine has a negative carbon footprint, because it’s ESG performance is favourable, there is now a currency linked to each ounce of gold it produces. The company can then use that to trade.

ESG currency would work the other way for a plus-carbon mine, where a tariff such as carbon tax could be imposed on the company or operation due to their plus carbon footprint.

Strydom refers to MineRP’s three core lenses – the science of mining, the business of mining, and the conscience of mining – to further explain the Triple Balance Sheet.

The science of mining showcases the capability of the MineRP platform.

“Through the science of mining, we consolidate all mining activities onto one platform,” Strydom said.

“Here we are linking mine planning to execution through helping our clients to formalise and digitise their standard operating procedures, and doing that at a very granular level.”

Companies are then able to derive a smart bill of resource (BoR) which enables them to link their financials to their mining activities by assigning the right resource or equipment (as seen through technical, financial and ESG lenses) to a particular task.

This can be pre-planned or done in real-time, making the Triple Balance Sheet a dynamic platform that enables mining companies to make changes on the fly.

Through MineRP, Epiroc is reconceptualising ESG, providing mining companies with the tools to accurately monitor and analyse their ESG performance, leading to more honest and transparent reporting, and happier stakeholders all round. AM

EPIROC AND MINERP HAVE INNOVATED A DIGITAL SOLUTION THAT GIVES ESG MEASURABLE VALUE, ENABLING MINING COMPANIES TO MORE PRECISELY AND ACCURATELY PLAN, MONITOR AND REPORT ON THEIR ESG PERFORMANCE.

Vocus SatelliteStarlink

Enabling new possibilities for the resources industry across regional and remote Australia.

NOT SO SAME OLD, SAME OLD

AUSTRALIA’S PROPOSED ‘SAME JOB, SAME PAY’ LAW WILL REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO PAY LABOUR HIRE WORKERS THE SAME RATE AS DIRECT EMPLOYEES DOING THE SAME JOB. HOW WOULD IT WORK?

It takes a lot of boots on the ground to run a mining operation. That’s why in addition to their own direct employees, companies bring in labour hire workers to buttress operations.

But the Federal Government’s proposed ‘same job, same pay’ law is looking to change the way things have long been done. It’s a move that has left many resources companies concerned, especially in the face of a sharp a labour shortage in the sector.

Driving the labour-shortage issues is the incredible rate at which the industry is growing. In a workforce forecast report, Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association (AREEA) identified 107 major resource and energy projects set for the country between 2022 and 2027.

This pipeline of projects – worth roughly $130 billion to the economy –will require an additional 24,000 jobs within five years, taking the industry workforce beyond the 300,000 mark.

“While industry growth should always be celebrated, there is no doubt

many resources and energy sector chief executive officers would look at such data with some trepidation,” the report states.

The report cites shortages in skilled labour as the biggest issue facing employers in the industry.

“This is not only threatening the continuity of operations but driving

other issues, including historic levels of staff turnover and spiralling sign-on and retention bonuses,” it states.

The skills shortage is a complex issue. Pandemic restrictions kept migrant workers out of the country and locked down people in different states.

Though international and state

borders have been open for some time, it hasn’t quite business as usual. In particular, the overseas workforce has yet to make a full return.

The labour market is also rapidly evolving as people seek more purposeful employment. Deloitte’s ‘Tracking the Trends’ 2023 report highlighted low

LABOUR HIRE WORKERS ACCOUNT FOR AROUND

PER CENT OF EMPLOYED PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO AMEND THE FAIR WORK ACT TO INCLUDE ‘SAME JOB, SAME PAY’ PROVISIONS IN THE SPRING SITTING OF PARLIAMENT.

recruitment numbers in mining from younger generations.

“Today, many mine workers are at least age 46, and nearly 50 per cent of skilled engineers are reaching retirement age in the next decade,” the Deloitte states.

The situation is multifaceted – and often tense.

It was against this backdrop that the Federal Government’s proposed ‘same job, same pay’ bill entered the equation.

How would the proposal work?

The short of it is that the proposed law will require host employers to pay the same rate of pay to both direct employees and labour hire workers performing the same role.

working arrangements, greater variety, and more overall independence. But these positions typically pay less and have fewer benefits than contracted employees in similar roles.

According to the ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ consultation paper released by

ATLAS COPCO

the Government in April, evidence suggests some employers use labour hire arrangements to undercut bargained pay and conditions and to avoid bargaining for enterprise agreements.

The consultation paper provides the example of ‘Jane’ to illustrate how the law will work.

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A labour hire worker, Jane works the same job as an employee at a food production company and is paid according to the relevant modern award by the labour hire provider. The food production company has an enterprise agreement that has better pay for the classification that covers the work Jane does.

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WITHOUT COMPETITIVE AND FLEXIBLE LABOUR HIRE SERVICES SUPPLEMENTING PERMANENT SITE WORKFORCES, MINES AND OPERATIONS WILL CLOSE, JOBS WILL BE LOST, AND STATE AND FEDERAL TAX AND ROYALTY REVENUES WILL BE FOREGONE.”

LABOUR HIRE CAN PROVIDE SURGE LABOUR CAPACITY, ALLOWING BUSINESSES TO HANDLE PEAK PERIODS.

The ‘same job, same pay’ measures will apply in this instance, and the labour hire provider will have to pay Jane at least the same pay that employees doing the same work under the enterprise agreement are paid.

This is even the case where host employers hire internally through providers within their corporate group.

In addition to pay entitlements, the new law will also include anti-avoidance measures aimed at prohibiting employer and provider arrangements in order to skirt ‘same job, same pay’ obligations.

In another significant change, the Federal Government is concurrently seeking to criminalise wage theft and underpayment, severely increasing financial penalties and imposing possible jail time.

The Federal Government gave stakeholders just weeks to respond to the consultation paper. Politicians intend to legislate the changes into the Fair Work Act in parliament later this year.

“clumsily” implemented, adding that it would greatly disrupt longstanding workforce practices.

“In the resources sector, it is not uncommon for individuals to hold the same base qualifications and work tasks as a colleague but be paid differently,” Knott said.

“This is due to factors including experience, business operational knowledge, length of service with their employer, performance assessment, and other factors.”

According to Knott, the proposed law erroneously suggests that a temporary labour hire employee has the same responsibilities, experience and history of service as direct employees.

“AREEA further notes … a distinct lack of acknowledgment that nonpermanent forms of work, including fixed-term and casual labour hire and independent contracting, offers choice to both employers and employees,” Knott  said.

“Without competitive and flexible

Financial Review business summit that the law feels like an old solution to what is now a very different working environment.

“Pegging all work to the same highwater mark in terms of pay, it breaks the link between cost of labour and productivity,” Slattery said. “It also removes flexibility on both sides, both for the employer and also the employee.

“People want to have choice in how

they work and how they are rewarded, so we are quite concerned about it.”

There is considerable apprehension over what effect the ‘same job, same pay’ amendments will have on an already tight labour market. On the other side of the coin, the changes could potentially better protect workers and address economic disparity.

Until the bill is ratified into law, speculation will have to suffice. AM

BORDER CLOSURES AND THE SHIFT TOWARDS PURPOSEFUL EMPLOYMENT HAS PARTLY CAUSED A LABOUR SHORTAGE IN THE INDUSTRY.

THERE ARE ROUGHLY 13,195 LABOUR HIRE PROVIDERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

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INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY AUTONOMOUSLY

WITH

Owned by Komatsu, Modular Mining is one of the leaders in supplying innovative mining equipment and has consistently provided one of the most complete lineups of mine management solutions on the global market.

Modular Mining has the mission statement of providing “leverage data and innovation to optimise the mining value chain in real-time”, and this is achieved through Komatsu’s autonomous haulage system (AHS), which acts as a comprehensive fleet management system for mining operations.

Komatsu product strategy manager of automation systems William Nassauer told Australian Mining the AHS was designed with safety at front of mind.

“Attention to safety has been fundamental in the design of the system since the beginning, and it remains our strongest suit,” Nassauer said.

“From a productivity standpoint, we believe that the pairing of the safest AHS with the best fleet management solution, Modular Mining’s DISPATCH, creates a powerful combination that cannot be equalled.”

Komatsu’s AHS was first commercially implemented in 2008, and for the 16 years it has been a system

that significantly increases productivity, improves safety and offers long-term reliability. But how does it work?

Nassauer said the entire network of autonomous machines is managed by a person acting as the central controller, and a server application that monitors movement and determines right-of-way in real-time.

“This right-of-way is determined based on availability of a clear path to an intended destination, which is provided from the Modular Mining DISPATCH system,” Nassauer said. “This right-ofway is then issued to a truck, and if the truck determines it is safe to proceed, then it is authorised to do so.”

If there are any cases of other equipment creating incursions into these assigned paths, the central system can issue countermeasures such as a stopping motion or alerting other users of the situation as it merits.

According to Komatsu, the AHS can increase productivity on a mining site by as much as 15 per cent and supports commodities for oil sands, copper, coal, and iron ore.

“These increases in productivity are due to high levels of utilisation of the trucks in an autonomous operation, since no stoppage during shift-change is necessary nor are operator breaks,” Nassauer said.

“We also see high uptime of the equipment due to the system’s enforcement of running within specifications, and significantly increased tyre life for the same reason.”

The AHS was also built with full supervisory logic that applies complex data fusion to control a truck to safely operate through a load, haul and dump cycle. The system also allows for integration with other mining vehicles, which is where Komatsu’s autonomous truck enters the scene.

Autonomous trucks are equipped with sensors and communication systems that allow the central controller and the machines themselves to independently decide to act to avoid unsafe situations.

Users in loading units control the truck positioning while loading, as well as general management of the loading area. Dozer operators and supervisors in the field can also have remote system access and tools to control the truck’s activities and address exceptions when they occur.

Komatsu’s AHS truck was jointly developed by Komatsu’s US corporation and Modular Mining, and is centrally controlled through a wireless network that integrates on-board vehicle controllers, high-precision global positioning, and obstacle-detection and avoidance systems.

Nassauer said by pairing the Modular Mining DISPATCH system and the Komatsu AHS together, carbon emissions can be minimised and sustainability is prioritised.

“We are also working on reducing greenhouse gas emissions further through initiatives being developed with our customer partners in Komatsu’s GHG Alliance, which include batteryelectric and alternative propulsion technologies that can be offered on our power-agnostic platforms currently under development,” Nassauer said.

“The Modular DISPATCH system is working to incorporate static battery charging strategy into its optimisation logic, as well as dynamic charging using trolly-assist or other types of in-motion charging technologies. In turn, the AHS will be supporting these actions as they become available.”

Komatsu’s AHS has received positive customer feedback, with users reporting the system is easy to use. They are also satisfied with the level of support Komatsu provides.

“We have regional centres which are heavily involved in helping our customers deploy and run successfully, and they also funnel development needs back to Komatsu’s engineering centres for continuous improvement,” Nassauer said. AM

A REPORTED 15 PER CENT PRODUCTIVITY INCREASE, IT’S EASY TO SEE WHY KOMATSU’S AUTONOMOUS HAULAGE SYSTEM IS BELOVED BY MINING COMPANIES ACROSS THE GLOBE.

AUTONOMOUSLY CONTROLLED VEHICLES INCREASE SAFETY BY LIMITING THE NUMBER OF WORKERS REQUIRED ON A MINE SITE.

WORLD MINING CONGRESS HEADS DOWN UNDER

Originally founded in Germany after WWII, Liebherr has had operations in Australia since 1981.

In the 40-plus years since, Liebherr Australia has sold and supported a wide range of products to multiple sectors, such as mobile and crawler cranes, offshore cranes, tower cranes, deep foundation machines, and earthmoving and mining equipment. With its wide range of products and services, Liebherr will be attending the 2023 World Mining Congress (WMC) as a gold level sponsor.

Since 1958, the WMC has been the event for mining companies to connect, innovate and discuss the latest from the resources sector. And it is now being coming to Australia for the first time.

To be held in Brisbane from June 26–29, the 26th WMC will feature an array of topics and discussion streams,

including critical minerals, social performance and governance, and environmental sustainability, to name a few.

Liebherr will be a proud exhibitor at the event, where it will showcase its wide variety of products and services for the mining industry, most notably its zero emissions roadmap, its new R 9600 and R 9300 excavators.

Zero-emissions mining efforts

In addition to being a leading provider of excavators, off highway trucks and mining dozers, Liebherr has a strong objective to practice zeroemissions  mining.

In 2022, the company conducted a feasibility study that investigated available technologies to determine how it can effectively progress within the zero-emission area.

In a story published in the Liebherr Group magazine, the company outlined

some of these low-carbon solutions and fossil-fuel-free initiatives.

Liebherr’s trucks from 100 tonne (t) payload and upwards are equipped with an alternating current and are available with a trolley assist option.

As of early 2023, all Liebherr diesel engines in mining trucks and hydraulic excavators can operate with up to 100 per cent hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel, which underpins Liebherr’s determination to find multiple solutions for decarbonisation with internalcombustion engines.

Liebherr wants its future solutions portfolio to be less dependent on the electric grid, which it believes will help to provide flexibility and likely be constructed on a combination of  technologies.

Further flexibility will be provided through on-board energy storage with the use of batteries or renewable fuels such as hydrogen or

hydrogen- based  derivates.

Additionally, once more advanced e-fuels, which are made by synthesising captured CO2 emissions and hydrogen produced using electricity, are accessible on a larger scale, Liebherr will be ready to utilise them in machines equipped with its engines.

Liebherr demonstrates through its products and services that it is one of the leading equipment manufacturers in Australia, and the WMC will be the perfect opportunity for the company to further showcase its new excavators and zero-emissions mining efforts.

R 9600

The new R 9600 is powered for mining with a customer-centric approach to define new standards in the 600t mining class.

The R 9600 marks the beginning of the new generation of Liebherr hydraulic mining excavators. It

LIEBHERR GROUP WILL CONTINUE ITS LEGACY AS A LEADING EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER WITH NEW EXCAVATORS AT THIS YEAR’S WORLD MINING CONGRESS.

THE NEW R 9600 IS POWERED FOR MINING WITH A CUSTOMER-CENTRIC APPROACH TO DEFINE NEW STANDARDS.

This hydraulic excavator is not only powerful, robust and efficient, but it has been designed to provide easy maintenance and the best serviceability  possible.

The R 9600 applies the latest quality control systems to ensure the operator can rely on the machinery and will see

pretty serious benefits for a mine site, including greater efficiency where the operator only uses the power and the hydraulic flow they need. This allows for operations to minimise fuel consumption and to maximise hydraulic efficiency.

Liebherr has designed the uppercarriage of the R 9600 with

on an impressive legacy of Liebherr’s decades-spanning excavator design expertise. It aims to act as the most efficient 300t class machine.

The newest member of Liebherr’s excavator family is equipped with the latest technologies and developments. Not only is it ready to provide increased

With an engine rating at 1800 revolutions per minute (rpm) of 1007kW, it is accompanied with a bucket capacity at 1.8t per cubic metre (t/m³) of 16.5m³ and a shovel capacity at 1.8t/m³ of 16m³.

The machinery is convoyed with a hydraulics system, which has an attachment and travel drive pump which allows a four-variable flow axial piston pumps and 512 litres per minute (L/min) at a pressure of 350 bar.

A swing drive pump is also enclosed, with one reversible swash plate that pumps 640L/min at a pressure of 350 bar on a closed-loop circuit. In addition, the hydraulics system has a maximum swing speed of 4rpm.

The R 9300 comes with a backhoe attachment with an operating weight of 252t, a bucket capacity at 1.8t/m³ of 16.50m³, a maximum digging force (ISO 6015) of 810 kilonewton (kN) and a maximum breakout force (ISO 6015) of  885kN.

The unit’s face shovel attachment comes with an operating weight of 253 t, a shovel capacity at 1.8t/m³ of 16m³, a maximum crowd force at ground level (ISO 6015) of 1105kN, a maximum crowd force (ISO 6015) of 1265kN, and a maximum breakout force for shovel (ISO 6015) of 980kN. AM

LIEBHERR HAS BEEN A LEADER IN MINING EQUIPMENT FOR DECADES.

LIEBHERR WILL BE A GOLD LEVEL SPONSOR AT THIS YEAR’S WORLD MINING CONGRESS.

LONG-TERM CABLE BENEFITS FOR SMART MINING

VOCUS IS ON THE CUSP OF DELIVERING THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SUBMARINE CABLE TO DARWIN, OFFERING SIGNIFICANT NETWORK CONNECTIVITY AND DATA STORAGE BENEFITS FOR THE RESOURCES SECTOR.

The only thing that was able to momentarily pause the deployment of Vocus’ submarine cable link between Darwin and South-East Asia was the might of Tropical Cyclone Ilsa as it passed over Australia’s north-eastern waters in early April.

After the storm had passed, Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) and Optic Marine’s cable-laying vessel Ile de Re quickly recommenced deploying the final segment – a new 1000km cable with a capacity of up to 40 terabytes per second (Tbps) – of the Darwin-JakartaSingapore Cable (DJSC) system.

When complete in mid-year, the new network connection will deliver a range of data connectivity, capacity and storage possibilities for companies in the Australian resources industry.

“Vocus currently operates two significant submarine cables: the Australian Singapore Cable, which links Perth to Singapore via Christmas Island and Indonesia, and the Northwest Cable System, which links Port Hedland to Darwin,” Vocus head of corporate affairs

Luke Coleman told Australian Mining.

“The current cable deployment is a connection from Port Hedland across to the Australian Singapore Cable, and importantly bridging the gap between these two cable systems.

“We are establishing a new direct route from Darwin to Singapore via Port Hedland, and a new landing point in Port Hedland that will eventually connect to what we call Project Horizon, a major terrestrial cable which will run from Port Hedland to Perth.”

Once Vocus completes its submarine and terrestrial cable projects, Port Hedland is set to become a fulcrum for domestic and international data, and a critical network hub in Australia’s smart mining revolution.

With most of the resources sector reliant on the data processing and cloud computing taking place in Singapore –as the city-state represents the largest data centre hub in the Asia–Pacific region – Australian mining companies are continuing to seek network alternatives, encompassing lower data transfer latency, increased data capacity and improved data security for their operations.

“Our new cable system will produce significant improvements to network latency as miners operating across the Pilbara region will see their data move from mine site to Port Hedland and then on to Singapore, avoiding the traditional requirement for their data to pass through Perth before arriving at the offshore hyperscalers,” Coleman said.

“And while it might sound crazy, this approach offers tens of milliseconds of improved data transfer speed, critical to mine operations utilising advanced technologies such as autonomous mining

WE ARE ESTABLISHING A NEW DIRECT ROUTE FROM DARWIN TO SINGAPORE VIA PORT HEDLAND, AND A NEW LANDING POINT IN PORT HEDLAND THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CONNECT TO WHAT WE CALL PROJECT HORIZON, A MAJOR TERRESTRIAL CABLE WHICH WILL RUN FROM PORT HEDLAND TO PERTH.”

truck fleets, network-reliant safety communications equipment and cloudbased software applications.

“Another key benefit of our new cable system relates to network capacity – with the amount of data that is processed,

stored and utilised by miners continuing to grow every single day – offering reliable, high-capacity and future-proof connectivity, embodied by the DJSC and Project Horizon, will be of great benefit to our data-reliant customers.”

Darwin is also rapidly becoming a key hub for data centres with NEXTDC’s flagship hyperscale data centre in the Northern Territory, D1, currently in development. This centre is the first of its kind in Darwin to provide 100 per cent uptime plus fast, secure and flexible access to major cloud platforms.

In partnership with Vocus and the NT Government, NEXTDC is committed to driving the economic development for technology capabilities in the region, with significant potential to service many resources industry customers.

“For Australian mining companies, Darwin-based data centres significantly reduce sovereign risk, as data management, processing and storage occurs within a known regulatory environment and not in a foreign jurisdiction with a different legal framework,” Coleman said.

The ability to mitigate cyberattacks is also vitally important, and the movement of data from mine sites and other industrial locations across the DJSC and Northwest Cable System into secure Darwin-based data centres will give a

VOCUS SATELLITE – STARLINK MAKES ADVANCED SATELLITE CONNECTIVITY AVAILABLE TO MINING OPERATORS.

new level of assurance for Vocus and NEXTDC customers.

to retain data-processing capability as close to the edge as possible, in many cases the edge being the mine site itself, is critical, and Vocus with Project Horizon and the DJSC is for the very

when complete are going to provide the operational redundancy vital to ensuring mining operations continue running on a 24–7 basis.

that their operations cannot afford to go offline,” Coleman said.

Along with Vocus’ commitment to providing reliable fibre infrastructure

across the vast mining regions of Western Australia, the company has recently entered a significant commercial partnership with Starlink.

Vocus Satellite – Starlink makes the world’s most advanced satellite connectivity solution available to mining operators and resources companies that require a dependable network solution without being limited by connectivity options to achieve positive redundancy outcomes.

As critically important as disruptionfree continuous mining is for Vocus’ clients, they are often also looking to invest in the remote communities that service their mine sites.

Places that traditionally have not experienced advanced telecommunications services, as they were not commercially viable, are now the beneficiaries of these new network solutions.

“First Nations and remote mining communities are now gaining access to fast and reliable network services as our mining clients seek to give something back in the form of dedicated connectivity, whether it be internetbased health, banking or streaming services,” Coleman said.

“Vocus considers itself both a fibre and satellite network provider and is proud to offer its mining customers and their communities with connectivity solutions to meet their many data requirements.” AM

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THE REMOTELY OPERATED UNDERWATER VEHICLE LOWERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE CABLE SHIP ILE DE RE TO THE SEABED TO PICK UP VOCUS’ EXISTING FIBRE OPTIC CABLE LAID SEVEN YEARS AGO. IMAGE: VOCUS/PETER BARR.

HOW GOOD IS GOLD?

NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS ARE PROGRESSING EVERY DAY IN AUSTRALIA, BUT WHILE OTHER IN-DEMAND COMMODITIES LIKE LITHIUM AND COPPER HAVE OBVIOUS ROLES TO PLAY IN THE TRANSITION, GOLD’S POSITION IS VAGUE. WHAT EXACTLY MAKES THE METAL SO SPECIAL?

ith the expansion of the Ravenswood gold mine, the quaint township sharing the same name now boasts the largest gold mine

The three-year and $350 million expansion will raise Ravenswood gold production to 200,000 ounces of gold annually, which is quite an accolade for a town with fewer people than there are

Ravenswood Gold stands to gain strong value from the expansion, but there are local flow-on effects, too.

Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart certainly thought as much when he said: “The Ravenswood Gold project

deserves a gold medal for how it supports locals and local businesses.”

But the Ravenswood expansion is far from the only large-scale stirring in the Australian gold industry.

Bellevue Gold is fully funded and on track to deliver its flagship Bellevue gold mine in Western Australia later this year. Bellevue has a mineral resource of 3.1 million ounces and is expected to product 200,000 ounces of gold per year – making it one of the top 20 gold mines in the country.

Then there’s Regis Resources’ newly approved McPhillamy’s gold mine in NSW with its 2.02 million ounce reserve. Regis has spent over a decade and $150 million in getting the project off the ground. It was finally approved in March by the NSW Independent

NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES’ SUPER PIT GOLD MINE REIGNED AS AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST GOLD MINE UNTIL 2016, WHEN IT WAS SURPASSED BY NEWMONT’S BODDINGTON MINE.

AN OLD HOTEL IN RAVENSWOOD. THE TOWN IS NOW HOME TO QUEENSLAND’S LARGEST GOLD MINE.

Planning Commission. And who could forget US gold giant Newmont’s $26.2 billion takeover of Newcrest? Finalised in May, the deal pushes foreign ownership of Australian gold mines above 50 per cent.

Suffice to say that the gold industry has been active of late. In fact, the price of gold has leapt 20 per cent in the past six months and has been trading consistently high just above the $US2000 per ounce mark since January, despite a tightening economy.

Other commodities such as lithium are much more exposed to the volatility of the market. For instance, after a soaring high, lithium prices are teetering on the edge of a sharp drop as the Chinese market faces oversupply issues.

So why gold? Lithium is necessary for electric vehicle batteries, which explains its rampant demand. But you can’t run a car on Grandma’s heirloom girandole earrings, so there must be something more to it.

Around 40 per cent of gold demand comes from investment in bullions and other physical gold products as investors look to protect their wealth. Gold also has a history of performing well in recessions, earning it the reputation of a safe-haven investment.

On the other hand, 50 per cent of gold demand comes from jewellery, which remains relatively constant.

Gold also stands apart from other commodities because it has inherent value as a cash alternative. If the dollar crashed irreparably, gold would be there as an alternative currency. It’s for this reason that gold does best during times of economic uncertainty.

In fact, central banks are among the biggest buyers of gold in the current

market, accounting for over 30 per cent of monthly global gold demand – an unprecedented level.

The Australian Financial Review called gold a vehicle of central bank revolt against the US dollar, arguing that the United States’ overzealousness with economic sanctions has pushed other nations to consider trading in alternative currencies to the US dollar.

Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed as much when he said, “Every night I ask myself why

all countries have to base their trade on the dollar”.

Whether or not the world is set for a rival to the dollar is beside the point. What matters is that gold can do it.

Put it all together and gold is a truly unique commodity with a bedrock value. It has a stable demand and performs best under pressure.

While the prices of other commodities flip flop to the tune of geopolitics, gold stands apart from it all as truly timeless. AM

GOLD IS CONSIDERED A SAFE-HAVEN INVESTMENT, TYPICALLY PERFORMING BEST IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY.

OZ MINERALS: A TIMELINE

FUTURE-FACING METALS COMPANY OZ MINERALS HAS LEFT BEHIND A LEGACY AS A GLOBAL LEADER IN THE MINING INDUSTRY. AUSTRALIAN MINING REFLECTS ON ITS 15-YEAR JOURNEY.

OZ Minerals enjoyed great success as a progressive and modern mining company.

With the company having been officially taken over by BHP in a $9.6 billion deal and ceasing to trade on the ASX, we take a look back at the timeline of the successful copper and nickel miner.

2008–2009: Merging minerals

OZ Minerals was born through a $6.2 billion merger of Australian non-ferrous metal mining companies Oxiana and Zinifex in 2008.

The companies came together to create the second largest zinc producer by mine production in the world at the time, and to pursue a number of other mining and exploration possibilities.

The following year saw another mining company enter the scene, China Nonferrous Metals, which was known as Minmetals in 2009.

China Nonferrous Metals acquired numerous mining sites and exploration projects from OZ Minerals, such as the Western Australian Golden Grove zinccopper-lead mine; the Century zinc mine and the Dugald River zinc project, both located in Queensland; and the Rosebery zinc-lead-silver mine and the Avebury nickel mine, both located in Tasmania.

But China Nonferrous Metals did not just purchase Australian sites. The company also acquired OZ Minerals’ 90 per cent interest in the Sepon copper-gold mine in Laos, and the Canadian zinc projects of High Lake and Izok Lake.

The China Nonferrous Metals acquisition led to OZ Minerals keeping certain exploration assets in Cambodia and Thailand, as well as any equity interests that OZ held in listed companies at the time, including its majority interest in Toro Energy.

Most notably, OZ Minerals held onto its Prominent Hill project in South Australia, located 650km north-west of Adelaide and 130km south-east of Coober Pedy.

Prominent Hill, which is still operating in 2023 with a strong focus on copper production, was considered one of the crown jewels in BHP’s acquisition of OZ Minerals.

2011–2017: Expanding horizons

OZ Minerals purchased the Carrapateena project, one of SA’s largest mining projects, in 2011.

Carrapateena, which is also focused on copper production, located 250km south-east of Prominent Hill and 160km north of the regional centre of Port  Augusta.

A pre-feasibility study for the project was undertaken in 2014 and a series of parallel initiatives commenced in 2015 to explore options to de-risk and increase the value of the project.

The OZ Minerals’ board granted approval for construction in 2017, along with further updates added to the prefeasibility study.

A few of years earlier, in 2012, OZ Minerals expanded its Prominent Hill operation to include underground work at the Ankata mine and extended further to include the Malu underground mine in 2015.

That year also saw OZ Minerals relocate its headquarters from Melbourne to Adelaide.

2018–2021: Completing projects and acquisitions

In March 2018, OZ Minerals offered to acquire Brazilian-based mid-tier copper producer Avanco Resources for $418 million, with the offer accepted and closed by August.

In 2019, OZ Minerals completed construction on Carrapateena mine and achieved its first saleable concentrate.

Prominent Hill also saw great progress in 2019, with its underground ramp reaching up to four mega tonnes.

Despite the COVID pandemic coming to Australian shores in early 2020, OZ Minerals continued to see positive results on its various projects.

The Carrapateena block cave expansion pre-feasibility study was completed and approved in 2020. And in a very significant move, Prominent Hill and Carrapateena were connected via a new 270km transmission line.

OZ Minerals was honoured at the 2019 and 2020 Premier’s Awards for its Prominent Hill project. The project took out the Premier’s Award for Explorer’s Challenge in 2019 and the Premier’s Award for Community in 2020.

In 2021, the company’s board granted approval for the Carrapateena block cave expansion and the Prominent Hill wire shaft expansion.

2022–2023: BHP makes its move August 2022 is when BHP made its first, unsolicited, takeover bid offer to OZ Minerals. The $25-per-share offer, which valued OZ at $8.4 billion, $25 per share, was swiftly rejected by the board.

At the time, OZ Minerals’ managing director and chief executive officer Andrew Cole said the indicative proposal significantly undervalued the company, which meant the deal was not in the best interest of its shareholders.

“We have a unique set of copper and nickel assets, all with strong long-term growth potential in quality locations,”

Cole said. “We are mining minerals that are in strong demand, particularly for the global electrification and decarbonisation thematic, and we have a long-life resource and reserve base.

“We do not consider the proposal from BHP sufficiently recognises these attributes.”

Despite this offer being rejected, various media outlets speculated in September that a deal could still be struck after Cole told media outlets OZ Minerals was happy to talk to third parties.

“We’re expecting companies to be interested in our portfolio, so the best thing we can do is to create value for our stakeholders and if and when people want to come and talk to us, we’re happy to,” he said.

It was alleged through various

CARRAPATEENA IS ONE OF SA’S LARGEST MINING PROJECTS. (IMAGE CREDIT: OZ MINERALS).

OZ MINERALS WAS BORN FROM A $6.2 BILLION MERGER OF OXIANA AND ZINIFEX IN 2008.

WORKERS AT THE CARRAPATEENA PROJECT IN SA. (IMAGE CREDIT: OZ MINERALS)

publications that OZ Minerals was seeking a $30-per-share takeover offer that would value the company at $10 billion.

Things went quiet until November, when BHP increased its takeover offer to $9.6 billion, or $28.25 per share.

This was the offer the OZ Minerals board accepted.

Discussing BHP’s revised proposal, Cole said it was a much better reflection of OZ Minerals’ unique set of future-facing minerals, such as copper and nickel.

“BHP’s revised proposal is a clear reflection of OZ Minerals’ unique set of highly strategic, quality assets in quality jurisdictions and an enviable multigenerational growth pipeline of copper and nickel assets in strong demand due to global electrification,” Cole said.

BHP and OZ Minerals worked collaboratively to ensure the deal was complete by the end of 2022, with BHP being granted four weeks to conduct due diligence from November 21.

The companies were keen to get the deal done, later agreeing to extend their negotiating window until December 27 to allow finalisation and agreement of the binding scheme implementation deed to be completed.

In its December quarterly report for 2022, Cole said the OZ Minerals’ directors unanimously recommend its shareholders vote in favour of the scheme, saying the deal was in the best interests of shareholders.

Within the first few months of 2023, the acquisition received approval from the Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defence in February, and Vietnam’s Competition and Consumer Authority gave authorisation in April.

A couple of days after Vietnam’s Competition and Consumer Authority gave the okay, the Federal Court of Australia approved the deal, making the deal effective from April 18. OZ Minerals’ shareholders also granted approval on April 14. BHP officially announced the completions of the acquisition on May 2.

OZ Minerals has been one of the leading producers and suppliers of future facing minerals for 15 years, leaving a significant legacy behind.

“The OZ Minerals Board believes that BHP’s offer appropriately reflects the quality, growth profile and strategic nature of OZ Minerals’ long-life copper and nickel assets,” Cole said of BHP’s takeover.

BHP CEO Mike Henry said the takeover would provide

growth opportunities around the world.

“This acquisition strengthens BHP’s portfolio in copper and nickel and is in line with our strategy to meet increasing demand for the critical minerals needed for electric vehicles, wind turbines and solar panels to

support the energy transition,” he said.

“Combining our two organisations will provide options for growth, bring new talent and innovation to unlock these resources in a sustainable way, and deliver value to shareholders and communities.” AM

PROMINENT HILL IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE CROWN JEWELS IN BHP’S ACQUISITION OF OZ MINERALS. (IMAGE CREDIT: OZ MINERALS).

OZ EXPANDED PROMINENT HILL TO INCLUDE UNDERGROUND WORK AT THE ANKATA MINE IN 2012. (IMAGE: OZ MINERALS).

BETTER WITH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

BLASTING

AECI Mining Explosives’ new, high-accuracy (sub-1m) Di erential Global Positioning System (dGPS) brings autonomy to the blast hole tagging process, thus maximising e ciency by eliminating potential human error on the bench and ensuring integrity of drill and blast operations.

A CENTURY OF DEFENCE AGAINST ABRASION

WEIR MINERALS’ LINATEX PREMIUM RUBBER IS CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY.

For 100 years, mining operations around the world have relied on Weir Minerals’ Linatex premium rubber to protect their equipment from abrasion and corrosion.

The distinctive red rubber is renowned for its resilience, strength, resistance and performance in even the harshest environments.

Invented by Bernard Wilkinson in 1923, Linatex premium rubber dates back to the tin mining boom in Malaysia. Cut to 2023 and Weir Minerals Malaysia is the world’s sole producer of Linatex premium rubber.

“Linatex rubber is a natural product based on 95 per cent natural rubber latex,” Weir Minerals Malaysia managing director Stephen Frendt said.

“The process in which it is manufactured is very sustainable, with very little effluent and very little waste.

“Across the Malaysian site, we have implemented a range of sustainability initiatives such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting and a rubber recycling program.”

Currently found within leading operations all over the world, Linatex rubber is one of the mining industry’s most preferred lines of defence against equipment abrasion, delivering best-in-class wear life and total cost of ownership.

Linatex continues to be field-tested at mine sites, something that was established back in the 1920s.

The formula of Linatex rubber includes a unique liquid compounding phase that maintains the natural state and characteristics of the natural rubber latex.

Largely unchanged since it was developed by Wilkinson in 1923, the unique formula of Linatex is just one of the reasons customers have remained loyal to the product for generations.

One particular mine that uses Linatex rubber is Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi mine in Malaysia, one of the largest known copper and gold deposits in the world.

“It significantly reduces material costs associated with changing out too frequently,” Oyu Tolgoi mine concentrator maintenance manager Akhbayar Enkhsaikhan said.

customer demand and providing the most advanced solutions.

The company is continually working to modernise its manufacturing process and has expanded the manufacturing facility in Batu Caves, Indonesia. The upgraded facility now includes a new continuous rubber process facility, a new Banbury mixer to manufacture dry rubber, and additional rubber presses to support the growth of the business. And grow it will, as miners around the globe

phenomenal in comparison to what we’ve had in the past,” Capstone Copper’s Brandon Greer said.

“I would recommend the Linatex rubbers to any mine.”

Linatex rubber has been put through the ringer at Pattison Sand in Clayton,

over the last 100 years.

“We are thrilled to celebrate a century of delivering leading value, performance and sustainability benefits to our customers around the world,” Weir Minerals vice president sales and business development Charlie Stone said.

engineering and mine plant development

LINATEX PREMIUM RUBBER HAS BEEN PROTECTING THE MINING INDUSTRY FROM ABRASIVE APPLICATIONS FOR 100 YEARS.

ALONG WITH ITS RELIABILITY AND PERFORMANCE, LINATEX RUBBER IS KNOWN FOR ITS DISTINCTIVE RED COLOUR.

Software for your world and our planet

A FLEXIBLE DEWATERING SOLUTION

Newcrest’s Lihir gold mine is one of the largest gold mines in Papua New Guinea and, indeed, the world. It is expected to produce in excess of one million ounces over 10 years following the second half of 2024.

Upgrades and strategic planning have helped to maintain its projected output. However, the site’s location, coupled with mother nature, hasn’t always made it easy.

The open-pit mine is located within one of the island’s large volcanic calderas and is adjacent to the Luise Harbour. Although the volcano is considered extinct, it remains geothermally active.

Resultant hydrothermal activity reaching up to 200°C, a high water table, the pooling of rainfall and regular seepage of seawater through the crater rim into the pit all contribute to major water issues. A strategic dewatering system was needed before expansion plans could continue.

The prime contractor for the project was a large pumping company from

New South Wales. This known expert in designing mine dewatering systems was entrusted with devising a customised dewatering system that was safe and efficient.

The company elected to use submersible pumps in the pit as a means to extract the water. However, the complexity of the situation meant using fibreglass risers was an impossibility due to handling risks.

As a flexible riser was safer to use and better suited to the challenge, Crusader Hose’s Flexibore became the system of choice.

The final design included a dewatering system that used three 350-kilowatt (kW) submersible bore pumps suspended from an eight-inch Flexibore hose inside an angled poly pipe casing.

Each pump was driven by a separate generator and connected to a platform, which cantilevered over the pit wall.

To construct the angled bore casing, 900mm diameter poly pipe sections were welded together to form an insulation sleeve, resting at an angle along the pit slope. The length of poly

pipe into the pit was 175m, and the water level was bout 45m below the headworks. The bore casing was securely anchored from the headworks, which incorporated a concrete-padded, steel-framed platform, surrounded with safety rails.

Once the bore casing had been secured, the installation of the submersible pumps could commence. As gravity alone could not guarantee a successful installation, a sliding apparatus was devised to protect the pumps from possible damage and to maintain the cables’ integrity.

Each 350kW stainless steel submersible pump was skilfully mounted on a skate that could slide within the casing. These skates allowed the pumps to be lowered inside the poly pipe and acted as a centraliser.

The pumps were connected to the Flexibore risers, which suspended each pump under its own weight as it was lowered 175m into the pit.

Flexibore was chosen for the project because it has excellent tensile strength capabilities, allowing for easy installation of the pumps over a roller while clamped from a crane.

“The woven textile reinforcement of the PU-extruded hose acts like a lifting sling, allowing a high tensile load of up to 16 tonnes to be suspended from it,” Crusader Hose managing director Francois Steverlynck said.

“The eight-inch Flexibore also has a burst pressure of 440m, which was well within the design pressure for the project. We know that bores are getting deeper, and the desired pressure capabilities must be maintained.

“Through vigorous research and development, we have also developed a stronger riser with a burst pressure of 700m and a tensile load of 30 tonnes. Our Flexibore flexible riser

WHEN A GOLD MINE EXPANSION IN PNG PROVED CHALLENGING DUE TO MAJOR WATER PROBLEMS, CRUSADER HOSE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING A SOLUTION.

FLEXIBORE WAS INSTALLED OVER A GUIDE ROLLER AT THE PNG MINE.

FLEXIBORE LIVES UP TO ITS NAME IN BEING A FLEXIBLE DEWATERING SYSTEM.

now has high burst pressures similar or equivalent to fibreglass.”

lowered inside the poly pipe casing, they were then connected to the diesel generators via the power cables attached to the Flexibore hose. Settings and flow rates were controlled until each pump attained a flow rate of 168L per second.

Taranis Power of Western Australia supplied the CAT diesel generators.

Gabriel Hoascar, the engineer from Taranis who connected the pump cables and fired up the generators, said the

“I was impressed at how efficiently the system worked. Our company will look to supply more systems using Flexibore hose, especially the new high-pressure version for deeper iron ore mines.”

Crusader Hose has been manufacturing flexible layflat hose

encourage the mining industry to consider the benefits of using a flexible riser for all dewatering projects, simple or complex. Our technical experts can help consultants and engineers with finding the Flexibore system best suited to their project.”

Flexibore 250, 300 and 400 can

less labour and equipment to install. Retrieving, moving and reinstalling Flexibore is also possible, saving time, energy and resources.

Crusader Hose has a large warehouse in its factory in Bayswater, Victoria, and can despatch urgent orders within two days. AM

FLEXIBORE WAS AN EASY CHOICE FOR THE LIHIR GOLD MINE.

ADVANCED AUTONOMY

AUSTRALIAN MINING RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH EMESENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND COFOUNDER

DR STEFAN HRABAR TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE COMPANY’S KEY SOLUTIONS FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY.

As a world leader in drone autonomy, LiDAR (light detection and ranging) mapping and data analytics, Emesent has made quite a name for itself since opening its doors in 2018.

Built on a decade of pioneering research at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Emesent’s state-of-the-art autonomous SLAMbased LiDAR mapping and data analytics solutions have been specifically designed for challenging and GPSdenied  environments.

With expertise in robotics, autonomy, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and data analytics, the company is well placed to propel itself forward into a future of new

possibilities and innovative technologies.

Emesent has made paving the way the autonomous industrial assets of the future its business and continues to build a legacy around this. Mining majors such as Rio Tinto, BHP and Evolution Mining already trust the Emesent name, and it’s not hard to see why.

Emesent’s autonomous solutions push the boundaries in technology in order to bring innovations solutions to challenging environments, advancing exploration to understand more in the world of mining.

The company was on-hand at the recent Underground Operators Conference in Brisbane to exhibit its future-facing solutions to the wider mining community.

Australian Mining sat down with chief executive officer and co-founder

Dr Stefan Hrabar at the Underground Operators Conference to check in on what the company has on offer, as well as what the future holds.

What are you exhibiting at the Underground Operators Conference?

We have our flagship product, Hovermap ST and Hovermap ST-X, as well as our prototype of Hovermap-Spot.

Hovermap ST is a tough, lightweight, IP65-rated SLAM-based LiDAR scanner that enables the capture of valuable data in previously inaccessible areas. It was also the winner of the Good Design Award last year.

Hovermap ST-X is built off the success of Hovermap ST and incorporates the latest in LiDAR sensing technology to offer high density

STEFAN (RIGHT) WITH EMESENT CO-FOUNDER FARID KENDOUL.

point clouds with increased coverage. Featuring a sensing range of 300m and more than a million points per second, it captures detailed, accurate data over a greater area in less time – giving you faster time to insight.

The autonomy capabilities of both Hovermaps help minimise the hazards of inspections and surveys by substituting a person with a drone in high-risk  environments.

Hovermap provides unprecedented insights for analysing underground mining environments, which ensures better operational decision-making. Surveyors and geotechs armed with Hovermap benefit from the information captured via its rich point clouds.

Whether drilling, blasting, filling or anything in between, Hovermap ensures mining efficiency is safely underpinned

with deeper operational insights.

Hovermap-Spot brings Hovermap’s autonomous capabilities, like selfplanning missions and autonomous exploration, to a new robotic platform: the Spot robotic dog from Boston Dynamics. Hovermap-Spot will have the LiDAR-based perception and path planning of a drone-mounted Hovermap and will play a significant part in the autonomous mine, designed to keep personnel safe.

What are you most looking forward to seeing at the conference?

There are so many exciting developments in underground mining operations – and mining more broadly – being driven by issues of safety,

sustainability, and autonomy.

With local mining companies at the forefront of trends across the world, we’re looking to see what is of greatest concern to our clients and see where we can collaborate to build the mining businesses of the future.

What key themes have you seen at the show and where does Emesent fit into that?

There seems to be a push to further reduce the carbon footprint or environmental impact of mining, with aggressive targets set for decarbonisation in the industry.

Emesent can help with our autonomous data capture solutions, as this can reduce the need for staff on site – less fly-in, fly-out means fewer flights

– and in future autonomous systems will enable zero-entry mining.

Besides the safety benefit of removing humans from underground operations, there’s also the benefit from not needing to cool or ventilate the mine. This has significant power savings potential, which would reduce the carbon impact of the mine.

Do you anticipate events like this remaining a big role in your strategy?

Absolutely. Getting face-to-face with our customers and those that work in mines is the only way to understand their problems and build solutions for them.

It’s a great opportunity to showcase our latest offerings and to contribute to the trends shaping our industry.

HOVERMAP ST IS EMESENT’S FLAGSHIP PRODUCT.

What does Emesent bring to the market that others don’t?

Emesent pioneered the use of autonomous drones in underground stope mapping, ensuring a safer and more efficient mapping workflow compared to previous techniques.

Hovermap is uniquely versatile – it can be mounted to a drone, cage, backpack or vehicle to map challenging, inaccessible areas, enabling customers to gain insights that were not possible before.

Can you share some feedback from customers who have used Hovermap?

Hovermap allows customers to capture high-resolution, shadowless data of previously inaccessible areas, allowing customers to improve mine operational  safety.

It also means they can improve endof-month material reconciliation and their ability to identify and remediate safety hazards within stopes.

Users of Hovermap have reported fewer production disruptions, as a result of improved awareness, as well as faster remediation and return to production after a fall of ground.

Can you share some history behind the company and its solutions?

Emesent is a world-leader in drone autonomy, LiDAR mapping and data analytics. Founded in late 2018, a spin-

out from the CSIRO, Emesent has since built a reputation for advanced autonomy and high-quality data capture in the mining, infrastructure, and construction  industries.

Hovermap is our flagship product. It is a smart mobile scanning unit that combines advanced collision avoidance and autonomous flight technologies to map environments that are inherently hazardous or where GPS is ineffective. Its award-winning technology uses innovative hardware, advanced algorithms and machine learning to automate collection and analysis of the

physical world. Equally capable above ground or underground, indoors or out, Hovermap is a complete mobile LiDAR mapping solution.

Hovermap draws on a decade of research into drone autonomy and 3D LiDAR-based simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) techniques. Its ability to reach and map inaccessible areas was set to be a game-changer for the heavy industries from its inception. The founders’ research at CSIRO was the first to bring together SLAM and LiDAR technology in a unique plugand-play mapping and autonomy device.

What does the future hold for Emesent?

We are working towards playing a key role in the autonomous mine, helping keep personnel out of harm’s way.

Hovermap already contributes to keeping personnel safe and HovermapSpot is going to take this even further by removing the need for people to go underground for some operations.

We are also excited to see how this same technology can be applied to other hazardous environments, across engineering, construction, emergency response and crime investigation. AM

HOVERMAP-SPOT BRINGS HOVERMAP’S AUTONOMOUS CAPABILITIES TO THE SPOT ROBOTIC DOG.

HOVERMAP ST IS A TOUGH, LIGHTWEIGHT, IP65-RATED SLAM-BASED LIDAR SCANNER.

The

Australia’s leading supplier of crushing equipment and services is proud to announce that the ZI-2100 AND ZI-1800 Cone Crusher is now available in Perth. Proven Japanese engineering and design quality from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, supported locally by Minprovise.

Key Features include :

High performance crushing chamber design

Feed distribution plate

Spherical Bearing for Spider Bushing

Replaceable Main Shaft Sleeve

Overload Relief System

Automatic Operating Control System

General Specifications :

Max. feed size: 350mm 305mm CSS range: 10-50mm 10-50mm

Weight: 93,900kg 55,600kg

Motor power: 630kW 450kW

Head diameter: 2100mm 1800mm

Nominal capacity: 515-2050tph 360-1485tph

A FORWARD-THINKING PARTNERSHIP

MINPROVISE AND KAWASAKI SHARE AN ETHOS THAT CAN BE SUMMARISED AS “CHANGING FORWARD”.

The name ‘Kawasaki’ may conjure up ideas of fast motorcycles, but in the global mining industry it’s powerful, precise crushing and material handling  equipment.

It all began with innovative shipbuilding when Shozo Kawasaki founded Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, in 1878. The company has since continued to grow and evolve with the spirit of innovation that has kept

mining, oil and gas, infrastructure and construction  industries.

Minprovise International Pty Ltd and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd share the same ethos that can be summarised as “changing forward”.

Minprovise has been a partner of KHI through its crushing and grinding business division, Earthtechnica Co Ltd (ETCL), since 2006, becoming Kawasaki’s Australian agent in 2011 and then exclusive distributor in 2016.

Earlier this year, Kawasaki appointed

crushing to bulk material handling, harnessing Kawasaki’s superior engineering, design and manufacture of their equipment and products to this local specialist services, engineering and products company.

ETCL was established in 2003, when the crusher divisions of Kawasaki and Kobe Steel integrated. With over 50 years’ experience across more than 40 countries in the field of crushers, ETCL has extensive understanding and know-how that has resulted in specific

gleaned from their expertise.

In an unprecedented move to be able to support growth in the Australian mining market and decrease supply lead times, Minprovise has procured two EarthTechnica ZI 2100 and two ZI 1800 cone crushers and has them housed in WA.

In fact, the company has gone so far as to assemble a working ZI-2100 in its main workshop and have it available for viewing in conjunction with the Active Gap Control (AGC) system it has introduced to the Australian market. AGC is an innovative solution to control material size, shape and quality at the touch of a button. It’s ideally suited for finite quality control.

CYBAS cone design with added features

As the Kawasaki group increases its focus on the iron ore sector with its balance machines and following its extraordinary success in the local and international diamond, gold and quarry sectors, Minprovise and Kawasaki are expecting to attract attention.

Kawasaki incorporating ETCL brings its excellent reputation for precision engineering design of their equipment and products, while Minprovise adds its extensive specialist fixed plant maintenance and crusher knowledge and expertise to the mix, as well as its ability to function as an EPCM or work with EPCM’s in the creation of new intelligently designed crushing circuits that can yield maximum highquality product for substantially lower energy  cost.

This forward-thinking partnership is powering potential, from crusher through bulk material handling to cargo AM

KAWASAKI APPOINTED MINPROVISE TO MARKET AND PROMOTE ITS MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEMS, INCLUDING SHIP LOADERS.

MINPROVISE HAS BEEN A PARTNER OF KHI THROUGH ITS CRUSHING AND GRINDING BUSINESS DIVISION SINCE 2006.

Preventing vehicle-to-person AND vehicle-to-vehicle interactions at mines across the globe.

The HxGN MineProtect Collision Avoidance System (CAS) is trusted in more than 40,000 vehicles worldwide. Learn more about our 360-degree operator awareness delivered via an unobtrusive cabin display unit for vehicles, assets and operators.

One platform. One partner. For the life of your mine.

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WHERE IT ALL BEGAN FOR THE BIG AUSTRALIAN

Broken Hill is regarded as Australia’s longest-living mining town. An industry that began in 1883 with the first sighting of silver-lead on an isolated ‘broken hill’, still continues to this day.

While the likes of Perilya and CBH Resources currently operate mines at Broken Hill, it was Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited – or BHP as we have come to know it – that kickstarted mining in the remote New South Wales town.

Members of the ‘Syndicate of Seven’ were the first to lodge mining leases in Broken Hill after Charles Rasp, a member of the syndicate, thought he had discovered tin while patrolling the Mt Gipps fences.

As it turns out, Rasp had discovered a gossan (weathered outcrops of rock comprising massive lead-zinc sulphides).

The first shaft was sunk in October 1884. Speaking to The Argus newspaper in August 1905, Rasp reflected on the primitive conditions the Syndicate of Seven were dealing with.

“At the start it was very bad,” Rasp said.

“There was no accommodation, water and provisions were scarce and the weather was very trying. It was an awfully dusty place.

“For 12 months it was really doubtful whether we would make anything out of it.

“I had unlimited faith in it right through. Of course, I did not think it would turn out as big as it has done, but I always thought it would be a fairly good thing.”

This Syndicate of Seven, which included a bookkeeper, a storekeeper, a contractor, and a man learning to be a sheep farmer, would establish BHP in April 1885 after one of the syndicate,

Phillip Charley, discovered a high yield of silver chloride earlier that year.

Charley’s discovery assayed at 1000s of ounces to the tonne, and 35,600 ounces of silver was produced from 48 tonnes of ore when smelting began.

The Syndicate of Seven had discovered something significant – if not nation-defining – and this would underpin the BHP we know today.

When BHP recognised its Broken Hill ore reserves where declining in 1915, the Big Australian diversified into steel production, where a steelworks would be built in  Newcastle.

That proved a wise move as BHP generated huge profits during World War I, making steel for ships, ammunition and guns.

BHP would continue mining its seven Broken Hill leases until 1939, when it ceased operations as the deposits began

to wear thin. It is estimated the Broken Hill mines generated over $100 billion of income for BHP across their 54 years of operation.

A Broken Hill mining boom

Broken Hill experienced a mining boom following BHP’s initial successes, and the town’s population ballooned to an estimated 10,000 people in 1888 – just three years after BHP’s  establishment.

Prospectors flocked to Broken Hill to mine the gossan for easily won galena – a natural form of lead – and shafts were soon being constructed all along the outcrop. Camel trains, wagons and pack mules would transport ore from Broken Hill to South Australia, where a similar smelting boom was taking place at Port  Pirie.

A mining correspondent at reflected on returning to Broken Hill

AUSTRALIAN MINING TAKES A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE TO EXPLORE THE GENESIS OF BHP, OR BROKEN HILL PROPRIETARY COMPANY LIMITED, AS IT IS TRADITIONALLY KNOWN.

BROKEN HILL HOSTS ONE OF THE MOST LUCRATIVE LEAD-SILVER OREBODIES IN THE WORLD.

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BHP WAS ESTABLISHED IN BROKEN HILL IN 1885.

“THIS SYNDICATE OF SEVEN, WHICH INCLUDED A BOOKKEEPER, A STOREKEEPER, A CONTRACTOR, AND A MAN LEARNING TO BE A SHEEP FARMER, WOULD ESTABLISH BHP IN APRIL 1885 AFTER ONE OF THE SYNDICATE, PHILLIP CHARLEY, DISCOVERED A HIGH YIELD OF SILVER CHLORIDE EARLIER THAT YEAR.”

after two years away from the area.

“Within that short period, a population has covered the waste as if by magic … here there are 10,000 people, broad streets, with the buildings as closely packed in places as the most crowded part of (Melbourne’s) Bourke Street,” the correspondent wrote.

The writer also detailed three “well conducted” daily newspapers, two theatres, a railway “almost in the heart of town”, and “hansoms and wagonettes” as other means of locomotion.

“What a change from two years and a half ago, when the journey over the seemingly interminable saltbush plains by coach, enveloped in clouds of red dust for hours together, was a task only to be undertaken under compulsion,” they wrote.

Other historic Broken Hill operations included the Junction mine, which was first pegged in 1884 and led to the establishment of the Broken Hill Junction Silver Mining Company in 1886.

The Junction mine prospered until low lead prices and treatment problems forced its closure in 1901. The mine reopened in 1906 and changed hands several times. It was also owned by Sulphide Corporation, North Broken Hill Ltd and Broken Hill South Ltd, before mining ceased in 1972.

The Broken Hill orebody

The Broken Hill orebody that BHP mined, and Perilya and CBH mine today, is 7.5km long and 250m wide. It was geological processes that occurred over millions of years that created its mineral richness.

The orebody was originally comprised entirely of sulphide minerals that contained large amounts of lead, zinc and sulphur, with small amounts of silver.

Over millions of years, the nearsurface section of the orebody underwent oxidation, which removed the soluble

zinc and sulphur and left behind enriched lead and silver. This part of the orebody was termed the ‘secondary’ or ‘oxidised’ zone and extended an average of 100m below surface. The secondary zone graded up to 9500 grams per tonne of silver and up to 40 per cent lead.

Broken Hill today

Perilya acquired its Broken Hill mine from an insolvent Pasminco in May 2002, having previously been a gold mining company operating in WA. The mine had produced more than

200 million tonnes of ore in its 127-year history when Perilya purchased it.

In its first eight years at Broken Hill, Perilya mined approximately 15 million tonnes of ore, producing more than 800,000 tonnes of zinc and 450,000 tonnes of lead.

The fact Perilya still operates there today – at its northern, southern and Potosi mines – not only highlights the enduring geology of the Broken Hill orebody but also the company’s ability to maximise its deposits.

CBH opened its Rasp mine in Broken

Hill – named after BHP co-founder Charles Rasp – in July 2012, and has produced an average of 22,000 tonnes of zinc, 11,000 tonnes of lead and 400,000 ounces of silver per annum since.

While BHP founded mining in Broken Hill, the industry has lived a lifetime since the Big Australia left the region in 1939. And as the likes of Perilya and CBH Resources continue to capitalise on the town’s geological riches, modern-day prospectors and geologists are experiencing renewed fascination in an everlasting orebody. AM

AN OLD SHAFT AT THE JUNCTION MINE IN BROKEN HILL.

A CONFERENCE NOT TO BE WASTED

A VETERAN OF THE MINE WASTE AND TAILINGS SECTOR, DAVID WILLIAMS IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT AUSIMM’S MINE WASTE AND TAILINGS CONFERENCE.

geotechnical engineering at the University of Queensland, David Williams is no stranger to speaking in front of

conferences for as long as I have, you get used to standing up and lecturing,” he told Australian Mining. “The more you know your topic, the more natural it

There are not a lot of people who know the topic of mine waste and tailings quite like Williams does,

To be held in Brisbane from July 13–14, the MWT Conference explores the latest in sustainable development for

As one of four keynote speakers, Williams will discuss tailings dam designs and some of the fundamentals he

Having had a long and varied career in the industry, Williams is looking forward to sharing his knowledge

Although he has been teaching at the University of Queensland for about 40 years, Williams’ career didn’t start there. In fact, he initially completed a civil engineering degree at Monash

University, before studying for his PhD. Almost immediately after completing his PhD in soil mechanics at the University of Cambridge in 1979, Williams’ career shifted to mine waste and the soil mechanics involved in waste, rock dumps and tailings.

He now manages the industry-funded Large Open Pit (LOP) project.

“The project is an international research and technology transfer project focused on the stability of large slopes associated with open-pit mines,” he said. Among the project’s main objectives is

managing the geotechnical risk of large open pits and understanding the likely mechanisms of rock slope failures.

These types of large projects have afforded Williams the intimate knowledge of tailings to which few people are exposed.

“Over the last decade or so, tailings have become a critical issue for mining companies,” he said. “If a pit fails, it can put people and the environment at risk.

“Everyone agrees that the rate of failures is still too high, so it is important that conferences like MWT exist to counter this.”

Williams will be joined by fellow keynote speakers Christopher Hatton, Rick Friedel and Kim Morrison, who will talk about areas such as performancebased designs, how to manage tenants differently and how to attract more people into the mining sector.

“We have been very fortunate in attracting a reputable group of keynote speakers for this conference,” Williams  said.

“They all have crucial views on how we can do things differently, because mining in general can have a bit of a poor reputation and it can discourage people from joining.

“But I would like to encourage people to join the industry and make a difference. We all need to work toward a greener future and the only way we can do that is if we get more people  involved.”

Conferences like MWT also provide an invaluable opportunity for people across the resources sector to come together in person.

“Networking is a key component of the conference for everyone, from senior executives to students looking for a way into the industry,” Williams said. “It gives people the opportunity to mentor others and make connections.

“We really missed out on networking opportunities during COVID-19 and MWT provides a platform for people to connect, listen to knowledgeable people and come away knowing more than they did going in.” AM

DAVID WILLIAMS, PROFESSOR OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND.

THE CONFERENCE ALLOWS ATTENDEES TO DISCUSS THE LATEST SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN MINE CLOSURE.

TAILINGS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY.

COMMITTING TO CAREERS IN GOLD

THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO OFFER A RANGE OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, FROM ENTRY-LEVEL ROLES FOR SCHOOL-LEAVERS TO JOB-READY POSITIONS.

The gold industry generates substantial wealth for Australian society, accumulating $25.8 billion in revenue during the 2021–22 financial year.

This ongoing robustness in gold exploration, production and innovation leads to genuine career opportunities across many diverse roles, and in fields not immediately associated with gold mining.

From finance, communications, training, environmental and community relations, the diversity of the gold workforce is somewhat surprising, and it is this broad expertise that underpins mine operations and helps to ensure the industry’s ongoing prosperity.

Agnico Eagle’s Fosterville mine in Victoria is a prime example.

Having extracted over 3.9 million ounces since the commencement of its current operation in 2005, the Gippsland region mine is the largest gold producer in the state. With a workforce exceeding 800 people, the majority of whom are local to the area, Fosterville strives to engage with, and contribute to, the regional community.

The mine maintains an ethos of social responsibility, with a strong commitment to providing access to job opportunities – whether they be in entry-level roles or in positions that require more formal qualifications – through a range of training programs and career pathways.

“We have a number of pathways available for employment in our mining operation,” Agnico Eagle’s human resources manager Nikki Hartrey told

Australian Mining.

“By interacting with the local community – providing multiple mine site visits across the year – we outline the various types of careers and opportunities that are available to those seeking employment.”

A former teacher, Hartrey found her place in the gold industry upon joining Agnico Eagle in 2019. Her current role sees her leverage her extensive classroom experience by leading the people function for Agnico Eagle in Australia.

With a strong passion for developing career pathways and high-quality learning and development opportunities, Hartrey understands that the longevity of the gold industry is closely linked to the rural and regional communities within which mining takes place.

“For example, over the past 12 months we have really focused on our vacation student programs at Fosterville, with the aim of engaging students and providing them exposure to our mining operations,” Hartrey said.

“Additionally, opportunities for people with existing trades are significant, as their skills often mean they are assigned interesting and different types of plant and equipment to build or repair, and certainly beyond what they may have experienced outside of a mine setting.

“At Fosterville we are committed to providing employment opportunities for people who have transferrable skills, especially for process operating roles or roles underground where you get dirty, and we conduct significant training for new arrivals to ensure they

have appropriate levels of technical competency and are fully aware of workplace safety.”

Through the acceleration of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, along with the increased presences of data and intelligent systems, mining is becoming smarter and the Fosterville operations are no exception, offering exposure to almost every type of technological discipline.

“We appreciate that for some people working underground is not for them,” Hartrey said.

“However, our approach has been to highlight career opportunities that encompass many professional disciplines, from engineering, geology, metallurgy, environmental science, communications and data science.

“An additional bonus is the opportunity to work alongside a fascinating collection of professionals.

“We have also been seeking approval to offer entry-level positions for people who have successfully completed a certification III course in an appropriate field.

“It is anticipated that this will quickly become a viable pathway to employment at Fosterville.”

Many other members of the Gold Industry Group offer a variety of apprenticeships, traineeships and graduate programs designed to provide recent graduates and entry-level jobseekers the opportunities to explore what the sector has to offer, while at the same time developing the appropriate skills to develop their careers.

The Gold Industry Group proudly

promotes the National Gold Education Program within Australian primary and secondary schools. The program is designed to change perceptions and encourage future generations to consider a career in the resources sector.

In addition, there are many scholarship placements available within the gold industry. In many instances, scholarships are monetary-aid awards designed to help students complete their undergraduate degree courses, often leading to holiday work with the sponsor company.

Industry organisations such as the Western Australia Mining Club and the Minerals Council of Australia encourage students to apply for scholarships, which are available across multiple disciplines including geology, mining engineering and environmental studies.

Today’s gold mining operations across Australia are creating life-changing educational and career opportunities for indigenous people and the communities in which they belong.

Australia’s gold industry represents a modern and diverse workforce, one that is constantly embracing new technologies along with adapting to new ways of work.

“The gold industry is focused on people, it’s focused on trust, accountability, respect,” Hartrey said.

“These are guiding principles and our senior leaders at Agnico Eagle believe in these principals – essentially, it’s about people at the centre.

“We’re a big business, and we produce gold. But what we produce is really good people.” AM

THE GOLD INDUSTRY IS OPEN TO PEOPLE FROM BROAD PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS.

Sustainable mining: How energy efficient equipment can help reduce carbon emissions

The role of an air compressor in the mining industry

Air compressors play a crucial role in the mining industry. From general plant air, instrument air, dust suppression, or shaft ventilation, Atlas Copco’s compressor range of reliable and energy efficient equipment will meet the needs of your site.

The role of a low pressure blower in the mining industry

Air blowers are essential components in the mining industry, providing low pressure air for various applications such as mineral flotation and pneumatic conveying. Atlas Copco has a range of technologies in our low-pressure range to choose from, ensuring the correct blower is selected for the specific application, process, and environment.

Save with our energy efficient screw compressors

As standard the GA90-160+ & GA180-315 range features:

* Oil Cooled IE5 IP66 highly efficient motor and element package

* 24hr/365 operating capabilities at 46°C, 55°C high ambient option available if required

* Easy to change air oil separator elements to increase uptime and reduce service downtime

HARDOX HIACE FIGHTS CORROSIVE WEAR IN TIPPER BODIES

Abrasive loads that are acidic or have low pH levels can cause exceptional damage to steel. Even loads that are usually not aggressive can become corrosive in the presence of water. SSAB has researched the field of corrosive wear for several years and developed a new grade of steel more suitable for these environments: Hardox  HiAce.

This steel has the benefit of resisting corrosive wear in tipper and trailer bodies. Loads such as minerals and wood chips can create an acidic environment, particularly when exposed to rain or humidity.

Hardox HiAce performs similar to a 450 HBW steel in a regular wear environment. At lower pH levels, it can extend service life up to 3 times compared to an AR400  steel.

• ssab.com/en/brands-and-products/hardox

NEOUSYS TECHNOLOGY ANNOUNCES THEIR LATEST AI-ENABLED FRAME GRABBER CARD

Neousys Technology announced its latest AI-enabled frame grabber card, PCIe-GL26. It comes with 6x GMSL2 FAKRA Z connectors supporting automotive GMSL2 cameras, and is powered by NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX Systemon-Module (SOM). PCIe-GL26 is Neousys’ highly-integrable solution that can effectively erase barriers and limitations of deploying GMSL2 cameras on existing x86 computers for emerging autonomous vehicles applications. Compared to traditional FPGA-based GMSL2 frame grabber cards, a PCIe-GL26 can deliver 21 TOPS AI inference performance, provide high-quality raw video streaming with three-exposure HDR, LFM, auto exposure, and auto white balance. Also, traditional HD map collection requires GMSL2 frame grabber and a GPU card to function. Whereas the Neousys PCIe-GL26 can directly output encoded H.264/H.265 video streams, dramatically simplifying the deployment system architecture.

• neousys-tech.com/en/product

MINE TOUGH WITH THE MS 1000

and discharging capabilities, and lasting in excess of 20,000 charges, these are high performance batteries that will power your applications for years to come –and drive the future of a decarbonised society.

The safety and reliability of our battery modules are of paramount importance. To achieve this, each module comes with an integrated cell management unit (CMU) that handles balancing and temperature monitoring on individual cells. When these modules are arranged into battery strings, each string is further monitored by a battery management unit (BMU), providing live data and easy control.

• tic.toshiba.com.au

Built at a height of 2.60m and length of 5.20m, Allight’s MineSpec range just got smarter, tougher, and brighter for a longer period with the MineSpec1000 (MS1000). Built with 1000 hours of lighting output per tank of fuel and 1000 hours between every service, the MS1000 can work up to three months of operation between refuelling and servicing as it only needs to refuel every 12 weeks based on a 12-hour operation. Packed with specifications such as six 450-watt lamps producing 360,000 effective lumens after stabilisation and a complete plug-and-play system with no hardwired componentry makes for easy part and loom servicing or replacement. Manufactured to minimise production delays and increase the tonnes per hour produced, the MS1000 can help mining companies reduce fuel consumption from 2.8 litres per hour to only one litre per hour, thus reducing the carbon footprint.

• allight.com/product/ms1000/

IFM’S SELF-SERVICE IIOT PLATFORM

If a mining company wants full vision of their on-site energy use so costs can be limited and their carbon footprint is reduced, ifm has the perfect solution: their selfservice industrial internet of things (IIoT) platform called moneo. Moneo measures voltage, current, power factor and harmonics, which are commonly used to identify a lot of mechanical faults. Having these insights available can be hugely beneficial to a mining business, for example the business can determine what its power factor is and if it needs to be corrected. Once the power factor is amended, moneo can be used to set a benchmark so limits can be set to provide ongoing monitoring for the operation- but this isn’t all moneo does. It also acts as a predictive maintenance platform which provides information ahead of any event. Moneo has been designed as an out-of-the-box, all-in-one solution, that is easy to integrate with existing systems at a mining operation.

• ifm.com/au/en/shared/moneo

TEZ COLD SPLICING SOLUTIONS

ATLAS COPCO HI-LIGHT B6+

The Atlas Copco HiLight range of lighting towers were designed to offer the widest choice when it comes to finding a light tower that is right for your application.

Atlas CEA partners with a wide range of industries to provide a flexible and dynamic set of lighting options, while addressing all aspects of efficiency and safety.

You can be assured of the robust build quality and compact size for which Atlas Copco is globally recognised.

The company’s Hi-Light B6+ comes standard with essential features such as enhanced coverage of 6000 square metres at 20 lux, low noise levels at just 55 dBA at 7m and improved productivity with 600-hour service intervals.

The Atlas Copco Hi-Light B6+ is ultra-compact for efficient transporting, is super intuitive whether operated via the smart photocell or weekly timer and offers best-in-class performance. It’s no wonder why the B6+ has been designed to be seen not heard.

• atlascea.com.au

The indigenously developed cold bonding adhesives from Thejo have been the benchmark in the industry since its introduction in 1974. A wide range of products offer reliable and effective solutions for various applications in the industry. TC310 is a two component medium cure rate adhesive system, with good bond strengths. To be used with HC hardener compounds. TBS3000 is a two component fast cure rate adhesive system, with superior bond strengths. To be used with HCE hardener compounds. TBS3001 is a two component noninflammable, fast cure rate adhesive system, with superior bond strengths. To be used with HCE hardener compounds. TN9000 is a two component noninflammable, high temperature resistant, fast cure rate adhesive system with good bond strengths. To be used with HCR hardener compounds.

• thejo-engg.com

ELGI DRILLS DOWN ON OPTIMISATION

ELGi Equipments has developed its drill series compressors, so efficiency, reliability, and serviceability are further optimised for customers. ELGi’s PG 900S to PG 1250S drill series models that are equipped with free air delivery from 900–1250 cubic feet per minute, have recently undergone several design developments. For example, the new weld-free air intake system with three-stage air filtration ensures clean air enters the compressor with minimal pressure drop, enhancing operational reliability and extended the compressor parts’ life. Additionally, the three-stage filtration system keeps dust out of the compressor and along with the compressor air intake system’s mesh protection, the drill series’ compressors are particularly suited for operations with dusty environments.

ELGi’s entire drill portable compressor range offers efficiency through its in-house rotors which assures energy-efficient compressed air is supplied for all demanding applications, with a higher flow and better specific fuel consumption, as well as an overall low cost of ownership.

• elgi.com/au

NORD DRIVESYSTEMS HAS A MOTOR FOR EVERY NEED

NORD Drivesystems is renowned for providing innovative and intelligent drive technology for water, wastewater, waste, and raw materials management. Among the company’s newest products are the DuoDrive geared motor and the SAFOMI-IEC adapter, which build on this reputation. DuoDrive is an integrated gear unit/motor concept in a hygienic wash-down design, combining the efficiency of the IE5+ motor and a single-stage helical gear unit.

DuoDrive is optimised for high system efficiency, high power density and low noise emissions. It features plug-and-play commissioning, meaning the total cost of ownership is significantly reduced.

The SAFOMI-IEC adapter is optimally suited for mixers. The adapter provides an integrated oil expansion volume, reducing wearing parts and attached components and resulting in greater operational reliability and less maintenance. Conversion features 6 easy steps and results in excellent operating reliability in a compact and simple design.

• nord.com

RETRA FLUID’S LUBESTATIONS FOR EASY MAINTENANCE

ENVIROSOIL: A HYDRAULICALLY APPLIED TOPSOIL OFFERING SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE

EnviroSoil is a hydraulically applied topsoil alternative for when your soil is unable to support  revegetation. Active components include thermally refined organic fibres, high carbon, natural soil conditioners, seaweed extracts and mineral blends, including basalt and microbial inoculants. When combined, these ingredients work symbiotically to improve the growing conditions of the rhizosphere.

The unique combination of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, in conjunction with mycorrhizae, works to stimulate the soil, mimicking the natural cycle and thereby creating a sustainable growing medium for the germination of plants.

Thermally treated fibres not only provide an interlocking matrix to minimise erosion, but act as a primary food source for microbial colonies to regenerate during initial plant strike.

Erizon’s EnviroLoc BFM (Bonded Fibre Matrix) is a premium hydromulching solution engineered for superior performance in the areas of erosion control and growth establishment.

Thermally refined wood fibres increase water retention and airflow exchange for improved seed germination.

These wood fibres are engineered to withstand challenging environmental conditions where high levels of water velocity resistance will be required. The fibres hold up to 20 times their own weight of water and provide extensive moisture retention around the seed.

The application is a two-pass process.

The first pass of EnviroLoc BFM is essential to maximise the seed-to-soil contact required for successful root establishment. A second pass provides thermal stabilisation, increased water retention and protection from fauna to give the best possible chance of sustainable growth.

• erizon.com.au

Certified for cyclone prone areas and all wind regions, lubestations also feature forklift access for efficient loading and unloading, high-security ISO locking bars and dust filtration to minimise contaminants.

The multiple advantages of the lubestation include their simplicity to use and maintain, their efficient and cost-effective structures and their minimal on-site preparation requirement, among other things.

Lubestations are custom-engineered to your exact requirements and supplied ready for use.

• retragroup.com.au/products/

WORKWEAR THAT GETS THE JOB DONE

Blackwoods understands that some jobs require workwear that is built tougher, and more durable than lightweight or traditional workwear.

Jobs that require hard work need workwear that is both up to the job in keeping workers safe and designed to last. Heavy industrial workwear has the added condition of being able to withstand industrial laundering.

Blackwoods has access to one of the largest ranges of heavyweight workwear options to keep workers safe on those tougher jobs.

Along with the foundations that 145 years of experience delivers, Blackwoods has a team of technical specialists and dedicated account managers who can conduct onsite visits to deliver in-depth fit-for-purpose product assessments, in-field technical support, product profile reviews and recommended stock profiles that are aligned directly to the needs of your business.

• blackwoods.com.au

Lubestation by Retra Fluid Handling Systems is a relocatable, lubrication pit stop

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

EVENT SUBMISSIONS CAN BE EMAILED TO EDITOR@AUSTRALIANMINING.COM.AU

World Mining Congress

Brisbane | June 26–29

Inaugurated in 1958, the World Mining Congress (WMC) is the leading international forum for the global mining and resources sectors.

The World Mining Congress 2023 (WMC) is a unique opportunity for international representatives of the world’s leading resource economies to meet, find new partners, discuss current challenges, and share the latest research, technology, and best  practice.

WMC events have set the scene for international agreements and highlevel discussions that have influenced mining practices and the resource industry for decades. Join senior mining industry owners, investors, national and international government representatives, researchers, educators, regulators, suppliers and operators from around the world in Brisbane for this genuine opportunity to demonstrate real leadership and presence on a world stage.

• wmc2023.org

Mine Waste and Tailings Conference

2023

Brisbane | July 13–14

The 2023 Mine Waste and Tailings Conference welcomes delegates from across to globe to explore all aspects of life cycle waste rock and tailings management, from site selection and design to post-closure care,

and addressed current and future challenges impacting mining systems re-engineering.

Co-hosted by AusIMM and The University of Queensland, the conference will feature industryleading keynote presentations, thought-provoking panel discussions, interactive Q&A’s, a suite of insightful technical presentations and exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations.

• ausimm.com/conferences-andevents/mine-waste-and-tailings

Life of Mine Conference 2023

Brisbane | August 2–4

AusIMM in collaboration with The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals’ Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation (CMLR) are welcoming attendees back to the highly successful Life of Mine Conference 2023.

In 2021, the Conference welcomed a record number of attendees from over 15 countries and is set to bring a wider, global audience in 2023. Join professionals, researchers, government, and academia from a diverse range of sectors as the program explores the full life cycle of a mine, from exploration to  rehabilitation.

Delivered both in person and online, this outstanding technical conference addressed current and future challenges impacting the mining value chain and will present leading examples of sustainability in mining.

• ausimm.com/conferences-andevents/life-of-mine

WA Mining Conference & Exhibition

Perth | October 11–12

WA Mining Conference & Exhibition will integrate the innovation and research ecosystem while addressing the social and environmental standards driving a more sustainably conscious industry. The largely expanded exhibition will showcase the technical and digital innovation across the entire mining value chain, while the highly targeted conference will illustrate the economic importance of Western Australia and its contribution the resource technology sector, its innovation capability, its job creation, and the attraction of capital to the state.

WA Mining is the ultimate event for mining and engineering professionals, showcasing the technical and digital evolution transforming the mining industry in Western Australia. Developed purely for the Western Australian market, WA Mining gives you a blueprint to solve your operational pain points while hearing from industry leading experts in the highly targeted conference.

• waminingexpo.com.au

Australian Mining Prospect Awards

Brisbane | November 9

Taking place in Brisbane in 2023, the Australian Mining Prospect Awards are a great opportunity to recognise and acknowledge the people and companies in the mining sector for their outstanding  work. Having recently celebrated the 2022

Prospect Awards winners, nominations are now open for 2023, with awards honouring categories such as Indigenous and Community Engagement, Mine Project Success of the Year, Outstanding Mine Performance, Sustainability Project of the Year, Discovery of the Year and  more.

Some of the 2022 award winners included Kestrel Coal for Australian Mine of the Year, Roy Hill for Mine Project Success of the Year, and Flexco Australia for Excellence in IIOT Application. This year, the awards will return to Brisbane in appreciation of the vibrancy of the state’s thriving mining industry. • prospectawards.com.au

Critical Minerals Conference 2023

Perth | November 21–23

Critical minerals are essential components in many of today’s rapidly growing clean energy technologies – from wind turbines and electricity networks to electric vehicles. The increasing appetite and rapid pace of the transition to cleaner energy sources continues to drive the growth in demand for these minerals, and in response the supporting industries are also growing at unprecedented rates. To address this rapid growth, AusIMM will launch its inaugural Critical Minerals Conference in 2023. The event will include a multi-stream format and seek to engage with a larger audience from multiple disciplines.

• ausimm.com/conferences-and-events/ critical-minerals/

WE SOLVE YOUR WATER CHALLENGES

SUBMERSIBLE SLURRY PUMPS FOR HEADACHE SUMPS

Less sediment, less downtime, less trouble.

Slurry sumps can be a constant hassle. Pumps wear hard and fast, and the sumps fill up with sediment. Cantilever pumps are often not up to the task. We know, because that’s when we are called in.

The advanced CFD design of Flygt slurry pumps ensures exceptional levels of abrasion resistance. In addition, we provide an array of measures that keeps sumps clean, even with the heaviest slurries.

SALES - SERVICE - RENTAL