AM Jul 2021 by Prime Creative Media

AUSTMINE 2021 MINING SERVICES VOLUME 113/06 | JULY 2021

LITHIUM SPOTLIGHT

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AUSTMINE 2021 MINING SERVICES VOLUME 113/06 | JULY 2021

LITHIUM SPOTLIGHT

DIGITAL MINING EMBRACING MODERN TECHNOLOGIES

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GIVING POWER TO THE PEOPLE THE AUSTMINE 2021 CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION HAS HIGHLIGHTED HOW THE MINING INDUSTRY’S PEOPLE ARE BEING LEVERAGED TO UNLOCK THE CAPABILITIES OF A DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT.

BEN CREAGH

Ben.Creagh@primecreative.com.au

s Australia’s mining and METS (mining equipment, technology and services) sectors welcomed a return to a large-scale in-person event at the Austmine 2021 Conference & Exhibition in Perth during May, they did so to discuss the theme of ‘harnessing intelligence’. For the past decade, if a mining company planned to harness intelligence, it often meant the intelligence that technology could offer. The drive for technological excellence is, however, so well embedded in most of today’s large- and medium-size organisations that attention has spread elsewhere. A focus on people may seem obvious, but strategies to unlock the skills of a company’s employees and its external stakeholders may have never been more profound than they are today. As Austmine 2021 reinforced, a key part of mining’s digital transformation is effectively combining the intelligence of new technologies and people. Leading miners are looking at this combination to not only improve their operational activities, but also their ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) performance. A mining company’s ESG rating increasingly has a bearing on its perception in the marketplace and the opportunities it will find for future investment. The combination of people and technology is being emphasised as a key ingredient to enhance this. For mining, sustainable practices are a focal point of delivering environmental and social value. For these aspects of ESG, Austmine was

involved in one of the standout examples of an innovative approach that was highlighted with the ChargeOn initiative. Austmine, BHP, Rio Tinto and Vale have partnered to launch ChargeOn, a global supply challenge which is seeking ways to efficiently deliver large quantities of electricity to haul trucks at surface operations. The partners are asking technology innovators to develop concepts for large-scale haul truck electrification systems that can cut emissions from surface mines. ChargeOn will ideally demonstrate the power of mining’s people and the partnerships that are developing in the industry, as well as the opportunities that new technologies offer. It is an example of mining companies giving their people and external partners incentives to influence the future of the industry like never before. Initiatives and case studies with similar intentions were common at Austmine 2021. Presenters told of how their company’s people, no matter what their position, were being given an opportunity to play a role in shaping mining’s future. For an industry often misunderstood for its use of a technology such as automation, and one that is also facing a challenging skills shortage, this focus on people has the potential to help position mining as an industry of choice for an ambitious next generation of workers.

FRONT COVER

In this edition, we include a special focus on digital mining, highlighting projects that are transforming the future of the industry. This issue reviews the Austmine 2021 Conference & Exhibition in Perth, with coverage of the key presentations that set the scene for the event. We look at Epiroc’s latest Pit Viper drill rig, which has arrived in Australia and is delivering positive results at its first site. This edition also explores how the gold sector is improving its environmental performance by launching renewable energy projects to power its mines. And as usual, we cover the latest mining equipment and technology in our products section.

Cover image: WesTrac.

Ben Creagh Managing Editor

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IN INTHIS THISISSUE ISSUE 26

16 AUSTMINE 2021

24 DIGITAL MINING

20 COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

36 MAINTENANCE

22 INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

38 DRILL & BLAST

Leading METS event returns to Perth Key points of discussion from this year’s conference Lithium’s future on the rise EVs drive demand for the battery metal

Mining cleans the world’s energy KPMG report sets the scene for the industry’s future

Technology transforms the industry METS companies develop digital mining opportunities ACE’s strength and strategy End-to-end wear solutions reinforce the mining industry Epiroc leads drilling evolution OEM unleashes the latest Pit Viper rig in Australia

40 COMMUNICATIONS

Vocus to expand network Projects to benefit mine site communications

42 MINING SERVICES

Contractors and suppliers build offers Profiles of Altra Motion, TVC, WebsterBSC and Allightsykes

50 RISK MANAGEMENT

Industry-leading services Proactive Insurance Management targets Australian expansion

52 WATER MANAGEMENT

Xylem builds focus on partnerships Becoming more than a supplier of products and services

53 SUSTAINABILITY

Aiming for a gold standard Gold sector seeks renewable solutions

55 INDUSTRY COMMENT

Harnessing intelligence in mining Top themes from the Austmine 2021 Conference & Exhibition

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

Previews of upcoming events AusIMM’s lithium conference and Women in Industry

REGULARS 5 COMMENT

55 AUSTRALIANMINING AUSTRALIANMINING6 6OCTOBER JULY 2021 2020

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NEWS

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. FORTESCUE’S IRON BRIDGE BALLOONS BY A BILLION Fortescue Metals Group has revised its cost estimate for the Iron Bridge joint venture (JV) in Western Australia, with up to an additional $1 billion needed to complete the build. First production at the 22 million tonnes per annum magnetite project is now slated for December 2022, with a ramp-up to full production over 12-18 months. Fortescue’s technical and commercial assessment of Iron Bridge, which commenced in February, has

forecast the project will cost between $US3.3 billion ($4.2 billion) and $US3.5 billion to build. This has eclipsed the original $US2.6 billion and revised $US3 billion budgets, with setbacks in February leading to the resignation of Fortescue chief operating officer Greg Lilleyman, projects director Don Hyma and Iron Bridge director Manie McDonald. Iron Bridge JV partners, Chinese steel giant Baowu and Formosa Steel were required to approve Fortescue’s

revised cost estimate. Formosa Steel owns a 31 per cent stake in Iron Bridge, while Baowu owns a 12 per cent stake in FMG Magnetite, a subsidiary of FMG Iron Bridge which is owned by Fortescue. Fortescue chief executive officer Elizabeth Gaines said Iron Bridge is an important asset for the company to meet iron ore demand, with a way forward for the project now in sight. “Led by our highly experienced project team, completion of the

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technical and commercial assessment of the Iron Bridge project has confirmed the optimal transportation solution, while also addressing contractor and logistical constraints, managing capital costs and confirming first production by December 2022,” Gaines said. “Underpinned by Fortescue’s unparalleled track record and capability in safely developing and operating major iron ore projects, Iron Bridge is well positioned to meet market demand and deliver strong returns for the joint venture and our stakeholders.”

THE IRON BRIDGE MAGNETITE PROJECT. IMAGE: FORTESCUE METALS GROUP.

BHP LAUNCH OF SOUTH FLANK CREATES WORLD’S LARGEST IRON ORE HUB BHP has delivered first ore at the South Flank iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia after $4.65 billion and 9000 jobs made it possible. The 80 million tonne per annum (Mtpa) mine is the largest iron ore mine Australia has seen in over 50 years and will combine with BHP’s Mining Area C to become the largest iron ore hub in the world – producing a combined 145Mtpa. BHP’s president for minerals Australia Edgar Basto said the project was delivered on time and budget, allowing for BHP’s Western

Australian Iron Ore (WAIO) mining and processing output to improve as soon as possible. “South Flank’s high-quality ore will increase WAIO’s average iron ore grade from 61 to 62 per cent, and the overall proportion of lump from 25 to 30-33 per cent,” Basto said. The project will continue to bring a multitude of benefits to the Australian economy for a number of decades, further strengthening the country’s position as a powerhouse of iron ore mining. “The project has created more than 9000 direct and indirect jobs

during construction and will provide more than 600 operational roles through its life,” Basto said. “South Flank’s ore will supply global steel markets for the next 25 years, helping to build electricity, transport and urban infrastructure across the globe. And its high-quality ore will have an important role in helping BHP’s customers lower their greenhouse gas emissions.” Basto made sure to thank the Traditional Owners of the South Flank land, as an exhaustive process of consultation and compromise was essential to allow for the

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construction of the operation. “South Flank is on Banjima country, and this milestone would not have been possible without their support and collaboration over many years. We are proud of our long-standing partnership and strong working relationship with the Banjima people, and we thank them for their vital contribution to this success,” Basto said. With 78 per cent of the $4.6 billion in works awarded to Australian businesses, BHP has ensured the project gives back to local communities.

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JUDGE DISMISSES COURT BATTLE AGAINST WHITEHAVEN A Federal Court judge has thrown out proceedings that would prevent Whitehaven Coal’s Vickery extension project in New South Wales from receiving Environment Minister approval. Justice Mordecai Bromberg dismissed the proceeding on May 27 – made by eight Australian children and their litigation representative, 86-year-old nun Sister Brigid Arthur – which sought to prevent approval of the Vickery extension project. The applicants said Australian Environment Minister Sussan

Ley had a duty of care to protect young people from the future impacts of climate change, and an injunction should be issued for the Vickery extension. Justice Bromberg dismissed the case on the grounds that the applicants had not proven Ley would breach her duty of care by approving the extension. “The applicants have not satisfied the court that the extent of the restraint they seek is justified by the imposition of liability in negligence,” Justice Bromberg said. “The applicants have not satisfied

the court that it is probable that the minister will breach the duty of care in making her decision as to whether or not to approve the extension project. “The applicants’ failure to satisfy the court that a breach of the duty is reasonably apprehended, together with my concern that the applicants have not established that a restraint in the form sought is warranted, suffice to support my conclusion that an injunction should be refused.” Justice Bromberg acknowledged the minister has a duty of care for children but said an approval of the

Vickery extension would not breach that duty of care. “The court is satisfied that a duty of care should be recognised. Accordingly the court has determined that the minister has a duty of care to take reasonable care not to cause the children personal injury when exercising her power,” Bromberg said. Whitehaven Coal welcomed the decision and said the company was looking forward to receiving Environmental Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act (1999) approval for the Vickery extension.

WHITEHAVEN COAL IS SEEKING ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL TO EXTEND THE VICKERY COAL MINE.

CHINA LOOKS TO CONTROL COMMODITY PRICES FOR STABILITY In the wake of record-high copper, iron ore and steel prices, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang believes the country needs to manipulate its commodities to ensure China’s economic stability. A UBS research report suggested multiple possible avenues for China, all with potential pitfalls. Avenues include accelerating liquidity tightening, loosening production curtailments or introducing price ceilings. The negative effects of these

suggestions were an impact on growth, environmental backlash and risk of effectiveness. At a State Council executive meeting, Li said careful analysis had to be done. “We must carefully analyse the reasons behind this round of rapid increase in commodity prices and focus on the crux of the issue, to adopt measures in a targeted and holistic approach,” Li said. Other ideas to increase supply in China’s domestic market were AUSTRALIANMINING

to raise export tariffs for some iron and steel products, and temporarily removing or cutting taxes and tariffs for others. This was referenced in the UBS report which suggested removing exports would bulk up domestic supply chains. “If China banned steel exports it would increase supply to the domestic market, pushing prices down and reducing inflationary pressures; this would impact steel spreads, result in a reduction in

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China’s steel production, and in turn reduce iron ore demand and prices,” the report stated. The report did not believe Chinese pressures would fundamentally impact international markets in the longterm, as China would look to regulate internally more than externally. “While the market continues to play a decisive role in resources allocation to ensure the supply of commodities and keep their prices stable, the government must better fulfil its responsibility,” Li said.

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NEWS

RESEARCH REVEALS FORMATION OF ULTRA HIGH-GRADE GOLD The secret behind the formation of bonanza gold deposits has been revealed by two researchers from Canada’s McGill University. Professor Anthony Williams-Jones of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and PhD student Duncan McLeish recognised the implausible nature of “ultra highgrade” deposits, found in places such as Australia’s Fosterville mine in Bendigo, Victoria, which has an average resource grade of 31 grams of gold per tonne. In an industry where high-grade is considered around 5 grams per

tonne, these deposits, sometimes with centimetres-thick gold veins, have posed a baffling question for miners and researchers alike – how do they occur? “As the concentration of gold in hot water is very low, very large volumes of fluid need to flow through the cracks in the Earth’s crust to deposit mineable concentrations of gold,” the team explained. “This process would require millions of years to fill a single centimetre-wide crack with gold, whereas these cracks typically seal in days, months or years.

“Using a powerful electron microscope to observe particles in thin slices of rock, we discovered that bonanza gold deposits form from a fluid much like milk.” The researchers said gold colloids found in the hot water of the Earth’s crust act like milk in the way they “flocculate” to form a jelly when their charge breaks down. Once flocculated, the jelly-like gold becomes trapped between cracks in the rocks to form the ultra highgrade, highly valuable deposits which mining companies hope to discover. An understanding of this

phenomenon had never been realised before, until Williams-Jones and McLeish made the discovery. “We produced the first evidence for gold-colloid formation and flocculation in nature, and the first images of small veins of gold-colloid particles and their flocculated aggregates at the nano-scale,” they said. “These images document the process by which the cracks are filled with gold and, scaled up through the integration of millions of these small veins, reveal how bonanza veins are formed.”

RESEARCHERS FROM CANADA’S MCGILL UNIVERSITY HAVE FOUND BONANZA GOLD DEPOSITS FORM FROM A FLUID SIMILAR TO MILK.

AUSTRALIA IN BOX SEAT FOR GROWING RARE EARTHS DEMAND Australia is well positioned to benefit from the rise of critical minerals, according to the federal government’s Outlook for Selected Critical Minerals Australia 2021 report. Released by the Office of the Chief Economist in the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, the report detailed the prospect for market growth in metals such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, vanadium, and rare earth elements like neodymium, praseodymium and dysprosium. Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said Australia must take advantage of its

privileged position in the market. “Australia is blessed with abundant resources and a highly-skilled workforce which is ready to transform these minerals and elements into the kinds of products the world needs,” Pitt said. The report credited Lynas Rare Earths – an Australian mid-tier mining company – for being the largest non-Chinese supplier of rare earth products. “Australia’s mined production of rare earths is forecast to grow by 9.1 per cent per annum over the outlook period (2020-2030), largely as a result of investment by Lynas at their Mount Weld operation,” the report stated.

AUSTRALIANMINING

Highly considered by the report was the market conditions surrounding electric vehicles and associated battery storage technology. The global fleet size of electric vehicles is expected to grow by 30 per cent by 2050, leaving the battery storage market to lag behind. This has occurred due to heightened investment by auto manufacturers, according to the report. “Auto manufacturers have invested heavily in the transition from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles (EV), and therefore it is in their interests to recoup their

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investment as quickly as possible,” the report stated. “Currently, auto manufacturer’s planned capacity increases to 2025 exceed the requirements of announced government policies.” Pitt said the Australian Government is supporting the development of the necessary minerals for electrification. “Australia is already the world’s top producer of lithium, and the government’s Critical Minerals Facilitation Office is supporting the development of other resources, downstream processing, and helping to diversify global supply chains,” Pitt said.

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PORT HEDLAND TO INCREASE MINING FEES

PORT HEDLAND IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST BULK EXPORT PORT.

Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) has increased tonnage charges by 25 per cent at Port Hedland in Western Australia as part of the 2021-2022 state budget. Port Hedland is the world’s largest bulk export port and ships iron ore for major miners including Fortescue Metals Group, BHP and Roy Hill. The fee increase will take an additional $195 million from miners over the next four years. In the 2019-2020 financial year, PPA achieved a record annual

throughput of 717.2 million tonnes (Mt) at its ports, including Port Hedland, Dampier and Ashburton. The record throughput was thanks to a surge of exports at Port Hedland, which had the highest annual throughput of all of PPA’s ports at 538.1Mt. Annual iron ore exports at the port were 531.5Mt in the 2019-2020 financial year. In December 2020, PPA stated that upgrades to its infrastructure and technology at Port Hedland

had assisted growing iron ore export volumes. Metocean monitoring equipment and simulation training were credited to the port’s higher capacity. The PPA stated that $324.5 million has been spent at Port Hedland in the five years to June 30 2020. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, iron ore achieved a record annual export revenue of $116 billion in 2020, making it the first commodity to

break $100 billion in a boom year. The price of the commodity has reached record per tonne levels in 2020. Federal Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt praised Australia’s iron ore industry for its economic support to the country. “Our major miners have made a concerted effort to bring down production costs over the last 10 years, and those efforts are paying off,” Pitt said.

TESLA TARGETS $1BN INVESTMENT IN AUSTRALIAN EV MINERALS Tesla chair Robyn Denholm has revealed that the company plans to spend more than $1 billion on Australia’s minerals supply to cater for growing electric vehicle (EV) demand. Denholm, who spoke at the Minerals Council of Australia’s minerals week, said each electric vehicle has around $5000 worth of minerals with Australia capable of supplying almost all of it. “Australia is the only country in the world with resources in all three of the critical battery metals, as well as other minerals required for the clean energy transition,” she said.

“By 2030, the value of the global lithium-ion battery market is forecast to be $400 billion. That’s eight-times the revenue generated by Australia’s coal exports in 2020.” Tesla has also valued Australia’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) practice and investor confidence in mining. “In short, a values-led mining industry has greater value to Tesla and to an increasing portion of the global marketplace,” Denholm explained. “Australia has the potential for some of the lowest emissions resources in the world. AUSTRALIANMINING

“This is critically important over the next 30 years because manufacturing as a whole has to decarbonise very quickly and this means that low-carbon minerals will be at a strong advantage in the new supply chains being created for renewable energy.” According to Denholm, Australia has a competitive opportunity to enhance its ESG practices for the future. “Tesla is the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles and battery storage systems,” Denholm said. “At the heart of everything we

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do in our quest to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy is the lithium-ion battery – one of the most important technologies of the century. “There is a global transition to sustainable energy underway and this presents a huge opportunity for Australia.” Denholm said Australia should also prioritise onshore refining of its lithium to save costs and reduce emissions. “There’s another reason for Australia to prioritise onshore refining; it’s a huge economic opportunity,” Denholm said.

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AUSTMINE 2021

AUSTMINE 2021 FEATURED A LINEUP OF WORLD-CLASS SPEAKERS.

PEOPLE AND INNOVATION TOP OF AGENDA FOR LEADERS WITH A THEME OF HARNESSING INTELLIGENCE, THE AUSTMINE CONFERENCE 2021 HAS EXPLORED THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE, PROCESSES AND TECHNOLOGY AND HOW THESE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS CONTRIBUTE TO LEANER, SMARTER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS. MICHAEL PHILIPPS WRITES.

eaturing world-class mining innovation keynotes, interactive sessions, engaging panel discussions and captivating technology demonstrations, Austmine 2021 has showcased the best mining innovation on a global scale. Over three days in late May, technology experts and mining decision makers explored the importance of optimising the interaction between people, processes and technology across the mining value chain. Held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event hosted mining and industry workshops, a conference that featured industry experts and an exhibition highlighting leading METS (mining equipment, technology and services) companies. Believed to be one of the largest gatherings of the industry since COVID-19 began, Austmine chief executive Christine Gibbs Stewart says harnessing intelligence is not just about leveraging data and information, but rather it focuses on optimising interactions between humans and machines. “As intelligent systems and new

technologies develop at a rapid pace, ensuring that the right people and processes are engaging with it will drive value into the future,” Gibbs Stewart says. “Digital transformation is engulfing mining, but technology is only effective with a robust platform to be driven from. “The unique nature of mining creates significant challenges for connectivity, but advances in communications infrastructure and technology is establishing the building blocks for mines of the future.” BHP Western Australian Iron Ore (WAIO) asset president Brandon Craig says the major miner aims to run a safe, highly productive and cost-efficient iron ore business through a focus on innovation. Craig set the scene for what’s to come in the technology space for WAIO as a world-leading iron ore business. “The next chapter in this productivity will come through the greater use of technology such as automation, moving block rail signalling, selective investment in debottlenecking and capacity creep, excellence in reliability management, and by continuing AUSTRALIANMINING

to simplify our business and processes,” Craig says. “The rate of productivity improvement in our industry has been accelerating ... and set to keep improving as we use data better and make quicker and more informed decisions. “BHP’s first autonomous fleet

at Jimblebar is maximising its productive potential, and we are now running trucks consistently up to 7000 annualised hours. This was not considered feasible only a few years back. “We need to apply this type of innovation and technology across every element of the value chain,

THE EXHIBITION ALLOWS COMPANIES TO INTERACT WITH POTENTIAL CLIENTS.

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AUSTMINE 2021

LYNAS RARE EARTHS MANAGING DIRECTOR AMANDA LACAZE HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR A STRONG CULTURE.

AUSTMINE IS BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF THE LARGEST GATHERINGS OF THE INDUSTRY SINCE COVID-19 BEGAN.

from geoscience – to resource extraction – to mineral processing – to outbound logistics – through to port processing. There is so much more opportunity waiting to be unlocked.” IBM global industry leader David Dickson and Shell Energy transition leader Lucia Lombardo continue the event’s theme, collaborating to discuss the working relationship between the two companies to develop their OREN Program. OREN gives mining companies a one-stop-shop to find proven and cutting-edge digital solutions from IBM, Shell and third-party vendors, with software and services listed according to customer needs in areas including operations, sustainability, safety, production and more. It also offers a Digital Readiness Audit service, which helps design a solutions roadmap according to specific goals and requirements. Lombardo says both Shell and IBM believe that collaboration is a major key to success. “The mining industry has a similar value chain to the energy industry and shares many of the same challenges, such as how to manage operations in remote locations,” Lombardo says. “OREN makes it easier for the services and digital solutions that have driven the transformation in the energy sector, to be transferred effectively to the mining industry.” Lombardo believes the challenges of energy transition and decarbonisation will be solved through collaboration. “Collaboration is a pathway for our organisations to form consortiums that brings our collective capabilities to bear,” she says. “OREN is a window into what that

innovation can look like. Shell and IBM look forward to working with the mining industry towards net-zero (emissions) becoming a reality.” Rio Tinto Pilbara Mines managing director Matthew Holcz says the current climate of miners operating through the time of COVID-19 and the way industry has adapted to the challenge has been significant for the industry. “We are clearly living in the era of disruption,” Holcz says. “However, disruption can unlock significant opportunities. It will be organisations that can respond, adapt and seek opportunities that will ultimately succeed. “The past few years have been a period of incredible achievements throughout the world. We have endured and continue to endure the COVID-19 pandemic. This

disruption has changed lives, economies and the way we work. “COVID has compelled us to reexamine our approach right across our business, from how we keep our people and our communities healthy and safe, and also how we think about our interrupted global supply chains.” Holcz notes that the mine worker from 20 to 30 years ago would have little understanding of the operations of the modern mine site. He asks, what would those miners think of a future where highly skilled operators, located thousands of kilometres from site, respond to real-time data and remotely controlled equipment, and go home after every shift? “What would they think of this future? Especially if everyone in the photo was wearing masks,”

Holcz continues. “The pandemic and automation are only two of the disruptive forces that have shaped our world today. “Social movements and technological advancements have always been catalysts for change. But thanks to a hyper-connected global society, these forces build more rapidly and perhaps with more urgency. “Now more than ever businesses should be prepared for the inevitable change that these forces bring.” Long-standing Roy Hill chief executive officer Barry Fitzgerald, on the verge of stepping down from his role at the company, reflects on the changes in technology throughout his career. Fitzgerald has watched the industry come a long way with technology and uses his experience

TECH TALKS GIVE COMPANIES THE CHANCE TO EXPLAIN THEIR LATEST INNOVATIONS.

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AUSTMINE 2021

BHP WA IRON ORE ASSET PRESIDENT BRANDON CRAIG SAYS HIS COMPANY HAS A FOCUS ON INNOVATION.

to prepare new Roy Hill employees for the career they have ahead of them with the company. “I use (those) slide rules to remind these people, many of whom are new to mining, that they will face more changes in technology than I have seen in the past 45 years,” Fitzgerald says. Fitzgerald recalls a conversation that occurred when Roy Hill first began its small steps towards the automation of its drilling systems. “I remember talking to one of the drilling operators on site and I said ‘What do you think of this autonomy?’ and he said it was

terrible,” Fitzgerald says. “I saw him the other day when it was a couple of years later and I asked him ‘How is life? Is the sky falling in like you thought it would?’ He laughed and turned around and said ‘that was the best thing that ever happened to me’. “That showed me that when it comes to the autonomous business we must take our people with us, we must be able to make organisational change. That way we can make sure that our people can reach their full potential.” Lynas Rare Earths managing director Amanda Lacaze highlights

the need for a culture that is continually working to make a company, or an industry, better. She says the urgency associated with survival brings out the best in people. “It means that humans are less likely to take the risk of innovation when times are good. So, we need to develop that mindset that encourages people to take that risk and continue to innovate when times are good,” Lacaze says. Lacaze believes caring for workers and listening to feedback are significant keys to a company’s sustainability “We are always asking our people for new and innovative ways to improve our operations. They need to understand exactly what success looks like,” she says. “We need to crystalise exactly what the challenges are that we are facing in our business, whether they are new challenges associated with sustainability or emissions, or whether we need to revisit some of the old challenges. “This ensures that we have diverse input coming into the discussion. Once you have that diverse workforce, make sure that you listen to them. They may just have the answers.” INX Software chief executive officer Basil Lenzo, whose company was one of the more than 80 exhibitors at the event, says the conference gives him

the opportunity to share his company’s brand. “Our software was originally developed to assist with on-site rostering but has grown to include a range of capabilities to assist a broad range of industries,” Lenzo says “We are very unique in that we actually deal with an end-toend solution whereas some other companies are only in one particular aspect of the operations. “That is why it is great to be able to attend events like the Austmine Conference. It allows us the opportunity to see the way companies are adapting to the current climate, while also allowing us the opportunity to directly interact with potential clients.” Hexagon mining division chief technical officer Rob Daw says being part of the exhibition gives customers and other companies an opportunity to better understand the role of the company. “For me it is about getting people to have a better idea of who we are and the solutions we have available, but it is also about letting people know about the company and what we represent within the industry,” Daw says. “It is all about creating the dots and bringing truly innovative solutions to the market. A lot of it is about bringing all these little solutions together so we have an opportunity to grow together as an industry.” BHP’s Craig says the mining industry is essential to build electricity, transport and urban infrastructure across the globe. “That puts the METS sector at the forefront of solving some of the world’s biggest challenges,” he says. “Over the next decade or two, the world will undergo a significant transition; and what we are doing here today – focusing on technology and innovation – will sit at the centre of how we manage this challenge.” AM EVENT AWARD WINNERS Gekko Systems claimed the Craig Senger Excellence in Export award, sponsored by Austrade. BHP’s Dash Maintainer Tools won the Austmine Innovation for Miners award, sponsored by Komatsu. Emesent secured the Austmine Innovation for METS award. Maptek’s Dr Bob Johnson received the Austmine Champion of Innovation award.

NETWORKING IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE CONFERENCE.

AUSTRALIANMINING

JULY 2021

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COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

LITHIUM’S DRIVING FORCE AUSTRALIA’S LITHIUM COMPANIES ARE POWERING UP TO MEET GROWING DEMAND FROM THE EMERGING ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) SECTOR. NICKOLAS ZAKHARIA WRITES.

ithium supply is a crucial component of the world’s clean energy story. With EV demand on the rise, a ramp up in lithium-ion battery production is inevitable to meet growing requirements. Fitch Solutions anticipates that tight supply will continue to drive up lithium prices, with lithium hydroxide monohydrate (56.5 per cent) forecast to reach $US17,500 ($22,593) per tonne by 2025. The consultancy reports that demand will grow to 1.5 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) in 2030. This is expected to lead to an influx of new lithium supply coming online to meet market appetite. “In 2020, decarbonisation rose to the forefront of government attention and has led major economies to prioritise lithium investment in an effort to strengthen their supply chain resilience for critical raw materials,” Fitch Solutions states in a May report. However, even with the 124 lithium operations identified by Fitch Solutions – many of which are still in development – supply is unlikely to meet demand. “Existing lithium producers such as Chile and Australia will also experience significant growth over our forecast period as companies seek to ramp up operations ahead of the anticipated demand surge,” Fitch states.

“This will help the production balance, but ultimately we expect the pace of new capacity to prove insufficient in meeting the pace of increasing demand, pushing the market into deficit.” Government initiatives, including the Australian Government’s Critical Minerals Prospectus 2020, encourage investors to support a growing number of lithium projects in development or operation across Australia. The Prospectus highlights Australia’s leading lithium mines, including Pilbara Minerals’ Pilgangoora project, one of the world’s largest resources of the battery metal. Pilgangoora currently produces a spodumene concentrate that is converted by international customers into lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide for batteries. Pilbara Minerals also plans to diversify the site alongside partner Calix by together developing a lithium chemicals refinery that creates a product used in lithium-ion batteries. While a developed mine such as Pilgangoora is one of a few ramping up to full capacity in Australia, junior explorers on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) are also planning to ride the lithium wave.

Plugged in

As EV manufacturing accelerates, Australian explorers are gearing up to develop lithium projects both within the country and on international shores.

With a pipeline of new sites hoping to enter production by 2030, strong local opportunities are expected off the back of the supply incentives. “We see production growth accelerating in Australia, which we forecast will remain the largest lithium-producing country out to 2030,” Fitch Solutions states. “Output in the country is set to almost triple over 2020-2030 based on our forecasts.” Among a new wave of lithium companies is Global Lithium, which listed on the ASX in May. Established in 2018, Global Lithium is advancing the Marble Bar lithium project, which is located nearby Pilbara Minerals’ Pilgangoora project in Western Australia. Global Lithium managing director Jamie Wright says Marble Bar’s Archer lithium deposit has similar characteristics to Pilgangoora. “We’ve discovered hard rock lithium in the form of spodumenebearing pegmatites at surface at the Marble Bar lithium project,” Wright tells Australian Mining. “Those words are deliberate but very appropriate. “A spodumene lithium mineralisation in a pegmatite, hosted within a greenstone matrix with granite contact, is similar to what we see at Pilgangoora and Wodgina – two very large projects to the west of us.” According to Wright, lithium’s contribution in the transition to electric vehicles is crucial. He says a lot of noteworthy global car

brands have this year made powerful statements about their intention to convert from the internal combustion engine to a battery alternative. “That means those noteworthy car brands are going to have to start to look through the supply chains with respect to how they find ethical and secure lithium supply,” he says. “For investors who want exposure to one of the largest industrial revolution scale events the world has ever seen, in terms of the combustion engine to the battery-electric vehicles, it is an absolutely rampant macro-thematic. “If you look at the supply chain of that thematic, lithium is a core component to batteries so the lithium supply chain right back to the primary mineralisation is very important and absolutely vital to that exposure.” Global Lithium expects its momentum will continue well into the future, with the current supply tightness providing the perfect conditions to receive support for a new lithium project. He says the Global Lithium team is driven by the belief that the Archer deposit has a role to play in not only the future of the company, but also the international lithium market. “Without that belief, supportive attitude and can-do attitude we have, there’s no way we could have achieved what we have achieved so far. But it also sets us up to keep that momentum going forward,” Wright says.

THE MARBLE BAR LITHIUM PROJECT SITE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIANMINING

JULY 2021

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

GLOBAL LITHIUM JOINED THE ASX IN MAY 2021 WITH DRILLING AT ITS MARBLE BAR PROJECT ALREADY UNDERWAY.

Improving the process

Australia’s position as a viable lithium supplier may be cemented, but other parts of the world are also experiencing a surge in lithium activity. Argentina, which is part of the ‘lithium triangle’ with Bolivia and Chile, has the world’s second largest lithium reserves at 17 million tonnes, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in 2019. ASX-listed Lake Resources is making the most of Argentina’s place as a supplier, with a number of lithium projects in development in the country. The company’s flagship Kachi project has a 4.4-million-tonne (Mt) resource of lithium carbonate equivalent with an 8-17Mt exploration target that would make the site one of world’s top 10 brine resources. For Lake Resources managing director Steve Promnitz, Argentina is a key area for brine production, which has a lower carbon footprint than spodumene converted into lithium hydroxide. “To feed that growth in batteries we’re going to need a lot of lithium,”

IN 2020, DECARBONISATION ROSE TO THE FOREFRONT OF GOVERNMENT ATTENTION AND HAS LED TO MAJOR ECONOMIES TO PRIORITISE LITHIUM INVESTMENT IN AN EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN THEIR SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE FOR CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS.” Promnitz tells Australian Mining. “One of the advantages of brine production is that it has a low CO2 footprint compared with processing spodumene into (lithium) hydroxide. EV makers such as BMW have signed offtake agreements for that reason.” Lake’s solution to achieve net zero emissions is through a method called direct lithium extraction (DLE). This method uses ion-exchange technology as water treatment to improve efficiencies. “The reason we went into direct extraction is because the battery sector and the cathodes that go into those batteries need to get consistent high-quality products, as well as environmentally friendly lithium,” Promnitz says. AUSTRALIANMINING

“They have to be consistently high quality. Battery technologies have improved over the last five years, going further with shorter charging times. “To deliver a high-quality product consistently we couldn’t use traditional methods for brine extraction. These traditional methods also don’t meet the rising sustainability standards, such as those being imposed by the European Union on suppliers.” Promnitz expects more mergers and acquisitions (M&A) between Argentine lithium producers to continue following the proposed $4 billion deal announced between Orocobre and Galaxy Resources, which would create the world’s fifth largest global lithium

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chemicals company globally. “From my perspective, that merger was about size or scale of potential production, not so much about increasing the market value. The industry is going to need more companies with more scaleable production,” he says. “I think we’re going to see more consolidation whether it’s in the sector or in the supply chain.” Lake Resources is also expecting a tight marketplace for lithium in the coming years, with Promnitz saying demand will most likely outstrip supply by 2024. “The outcome of that is that virtually all the lithium projects in a development stage will probably get funded and be put into production to meet this demand,” Promnitz says. “After 2025 we don’t know where the rest of the lithium is going to come from.” Lithium remains an essential part of the world’s transition to clean energy and battery technologies. With a small number of lithiumfocused companies on the ASX, pushing projects into production will ensure Australia has a strong foothold on global demand. AM

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

HOW MINING IS CLEANING THE WORLD’S ENERGY TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO CLEAN ENERGY, COUNTRIES WILL NEED TO RELY ON A STEADY SUPPLY OF MINED RESOURCES. AUSTRALIA IS EXPECTED TO BE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR DURING THIS TRANSITION.

oldman Sachs this year described copper as the new oil due to the base metal’s importance in supporting the world’s transition away from fossil fuels. A similar sentiment is given in KPMG and Eurasia Group’s Resourcing the Energy Transition: Making the World Go Round report, which outlines that oil producing countries are set to transition to producing minerals. Australia is mostly ahead of the pack when it comes to exporting mined metals, such as copper and lithium, with the country currently the world’s leading supplier of lithium for batteries, according to the report. KPMG global mining leader Trevor Hart says supply risks are an underappreciated part of the world’s clean energy transition. “Mined materials are used to construct basic infrastructure to generate, transmit and store power,” Hart says. “They enable the production of existing green technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines – and the development of new ones to address the urgency of climate change. “Futher, industries will deploy new technologies to reduce their own emissions making plant redundant

sooner, thus placing further demand on commodities. “We believe such a transition highlights an underappreciated risk to the energy transition: the supply of clean energy depends on mined natural resources.” The world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) automaker, Tesla, plans to invest more than $1 billion in Australian minerals used in EVs, including lithium, nickel and cobalt. Tesla chair Robyn Denholm says Australia is the only country in the world with resources in all three of the critical battery metals, as well as other minerals required for the clean energy transition. “By 2030, the value of the global lithium-ion battery market is forecast to be $400 billion. That’s eight times the revenue generated by Australia’s coal exports in 2020,” Denholm, speaking at the Minerals Council of Australia’s minerals week, says. Australia offers a strong value proposition for EV makers due to its strict environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. “Australia has the potential for some of the lowest emissions resources in the world,” Denholm says. “This is critically important over the next 30 years, because manufacturing as a whole has to decarbonise very quickly and this means that low-carbon

minerals will be at a strong advantage in the new supply chains being created for renewable energy.” Denholm also encourages Australia to go a step further from being just an exporter of these minerals, saying the country should also be a producer of downstream battery materials. “There’s another reason for Australia to prioritise onshore refining; it’s a huge economic opportunity,” Denholm says. “Tesla estimates that last year, Australia supplied approximately 49 per cent of the world’s lithium ore – spodumene – but 0 per cent of the refined product suitable for battery cells. “That lithium sold for about $US100 million ($129 million) – but if it was processed onshore in Australia the value would have been more like $1.7 billion dollars.” KPMG’s report highlights the World Bank’s top five metals required for a successful energy transition – lithium, cobalt, vanadium, indium and graphite. Lithium demand will reach 5.6 million tonnes (Mt) by 2050, while

QMINES IS FOCUSED ON UNCOVERING COPPER DEPOSITS IN QUEENSLAND. AUSTRALIANMINING

JULY 2021

cobalt will reach 8Mt in the same period. However, the report also predicts that metals like copper and nickel will face similar risks around demand and criticality. This is already ringing true for copper, which has reached all-time highs on the London Metal Exchange (LME) this year. Junior copper explorers are also putting projects on the table, including Kincora Copper and QMines. QMines executive chairman Andrew Sparke says decreases to copper supply from Chile and COVID-19 labour issues are increasing market demand. The company is focused on the historic Mt Chalmers copper-gold mine in Queensland which was in operation between 1898 and 1982. “Queensland is the place to find large copper deposits in Australia, which puts QMines in a really good position,” Sparke tells Australian Mining. Its current inferred resource is 3.9Mt at 1.15 per cent copper and 0.81 grams per tonne of gold.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

“The amount of copper we need to green the world is enormous,” Sparke says. “Where all this copper supply is going to come from is certainly yet to be determined. That backdrop is causing declining investors on the LME. “It’s a really nice environment to be a copper explorer or company transition into copper development.” Sparke says there is a lack of copper exposure on the ASX compared with other commodities. “There’s a scarcity factor (for copper) that you don’t see in a lot of other minerals, it bodes well for smaller developers,” he says. Kincora Copper is also eyeing new greenfield and brownfield discoveries through its tenements in the Macquire Arc belt in Australia, which hosts more than 100Mt of gold and 24Mt of copper. The company also has assets in Mongolia and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). According to Kincora Copper president and chief executive officer Sam Spring, the push for decarbonisation has increased copper demand. “There’s been a bullish move for decarbonisation and stimulus packages,” Spring says. This has allowed junior explorers to ride the wave of positive prices amid tighter demand. “It’s a tailwind for the junior

KINCORA COPPER IS A JUNIOR EXPLORER THAT LISTED ON THE ASX THIS YEAR.

sector,” Spring says. “The improving copper price increases investor sentiment and that filters down to the junior miners, who increase exploration with brownfield and greenfield projects.” For Spring, an electric future will always require copper. He says one thing about copper is that it’s the most cost-effective means to conduct electricity, both for powering the vehicle and getting power to the charging point. “The shift from carbon cars to

electric vehicles will see an increase in copper demand,” Spring says. “It’s the same narrative for energy use at home from traditional power to solar and the likes. The foundation for this move in copper price has been in place for quite some time.” KPMG believes the net zero commitments that have been adopted by world leaders and companies will require large-scale rollouts of renewable energy technologies. “At the very beginning of the energy transition supply chain is the

sourcing of metals, minerals and abiotic materials (resources). We need to ensure this doesn’t turn out to be the weakest link,” KPMG’s Hart says. “The core issue is not necessarily one of quantity of the minerals; global known reserves are in fact likely sufficient to meet current projections of demand for many of these resources. Rather, it’s about risk and supply management.” With junior explorers looking to unlock more deposits, Australia is on a path towards fuelling a clean future. AM

The KCA Carbon Converter Recover Gold From Your Carbon Fines On Site

Kappes, Cassiday & Associates (KCA) now has three carbon converters successfully operating, at mines in Armenia, Argentina and Nevada. These units take carbon fines and dirty, wet waste carbon at gold leach plants, thoroughly ash it and remove all mercury. Recovery of gold and silver into bullion is typically 99%. For waste carbon loaded to 200 grams gold per tonne, operating cost is $6.00 per gram, or 11% of the value of the recovered gold. Often waste carbons are loaded much higher - the cost per gram drops accordingly. Mines with the Carbon Converter can recover their gold quickly without the Chain-of-Custody problems of shipping carbon to outside processors. Shipping mercury-contaminated wastes off-site incurs large risks of environmental contamination, and the Carbon Converter eliminates this risk. Having the Carbon Converter on site allows the operation to explore various process optimization techniques. For example, carbon fines below 30 mesh are usually lost to tailings in CIL plants, because such fines cannot be recovered cleanly. These losses can account for 1% of the gold fed to the plant. The Carbon Converter can process them. Another opportunity exists where process facilities periodically discard a portion of their coarse carbon in order to maintain optimum carbon activity. With the Carbon Converter, this carbon can be consumed on site and the contained gold recovered economically. The installed cost of the Carbon Converter is about US$1 million including site services, a building, and infrastructure. For mines which generate at least 50 tonnes/year of carbon wastes and fines, payback is typically less than one year.

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DIGITAL MINING

HAUL TRUCK AUTOMATION HAS INCREASED RAPIDLY IN MINING.

AUSTRALIAN MINING LEADS GLOBAL DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AS TECHNOLOGY EVOLVES AND THE EXPERIENCE OF LARGER MINING OPERATIONS AND EQUIPMENT PROVIDERS EVOLVES WITH IT, OPERATORS OF ALL SIZES ARE STARTING TO REALISE THE BENEFITS AND RETURNS FROM INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY.

ajor miners with Australian operations have long been at the forefront of technological advancement in the industry. Companies such as Rio Tinto and BHP are credited with driving the digital transformation of mining, working collaboratively with original equipment manufacturers to realise improvements in productivity, safety, efficiency and quality. Now, that technology has started to cascade down to benefit smaller operators, with a range of cost effective, fit-for-purpose features built into equipment as standard or factory-direct options to deliver achievable return on investment. This is the focus of The Digital Transformation of Mining Equipment, the latest white paper from WesTrac. Following is an excerpt from the white paper.

The current landscape

According to WesTrac general manager technology Alister MacPherson, one of the reasons that technology has been able to advance is the vast improvement in data transmission and analysis capabilities. “We’ve been building pieces of the puzzle for decades – for example high precision GPS has been around for a long time,” MacPherson says. “Until recently, they tended to be bolt-on additions provided by third parties and were limited in terms of interoperability.

“There was specialist technology and specialist applications that went with it, but what was lacking was the ability to transmit vast amounts of data because of the computing power required to do so.” There have also been significant advances in the ‘infill’ of technology. While Cat MineStar technology first started providing benefits to mining companies more than 25 years ago, functionality was targeted to individual portions of the operation where they could deliver the greatest gains in productivity, efficiency and safety. Today, solutions have evolved to include more interoperability, be far more scalable and to allow a staged approach to the adoption of technology within and between different business operations. The outcome is far more widespread adoption of technology. With the knowledge that data can be captured at just about any step in the supply chain, and more importantly that it can be meaningfully utilised to deliver better business outcomes, technology once reserved for Tier 1 miners is now cascading down to smaller operators.

Drivers for technology adoption

When it comes to technology adoption, and particularly in sectors such as mining, energy and construction, there has been a tendency for smaller operators to be the fast followers rather than the initial innovators. That can be attributed in large part to the fact that such organisations have fewer resources and less time than Tier 1 operators to devote to AUSTRALIANMINING

research and development. The result is that many smaller operators will wait to see the outcomes from bigger business before mainstream adoption occurs. There also has to be a desire to utilise and maximise available technologies. While modern-day equipment may have a whole range of new technology built in, much of it necessarily remains optional based on user demographics, the complexity of work they may undertake and the time required to develop the new skills to use that technology. Other drivers are also coming into play, such as legislative changes to safety, environment and native title that will have a rapid impact. At the end of the day however, the make-or-break decision is whether the effort will provide adequate reward. In other words, is there a tangible return on investment?

Defining and deriving value

The initial drivers for technologyassisted operations, as with many business improvements across multiple industry sectors, were focused largely on: • Productivity – processing more tonnes per hour • Efficiency – reducing time and cost associated with resource requirements, equipment operating costs and downtime • Safety – reducing or eliminating the need to place people into high-risk environments. In addition, as digital transformation

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of those initial core areas matures, mine operators and contractors are increasingly looking to technology to deliver value in a broader context. Social licence to operate topped Ernst & Young’s annual list of business risk in mining and metals for the third consecutive year in 2020. EY cited a number of areas where licence to operate would play an increasingly important role, including: local community impact, water management, decarbonisation, green production, and Scope 3 emissions (indirect carbon emissions by third parties such as mining customers). Legislation and regulation – which in many cases involve significant penalties for non-compliance – are evolving in line with the same drivers that influence social licence. Factors such as community health and wellbeing, environment and climate, native title and heritage, are driving miners to adjust the ways in which they operate. While the investment versus return equation may not be quite so straightforward compared to improved tonnage or less downtime, ensuring adequate social licence and conformance with regulatory requirements is vital. Without it, miners would be severely compromised in their ability to carry out their operations. In many cases, technology provides the solutions to these challenges. AM The WesTrac whitepaper, which includes further insights, future predictions and case studies, can be accessed by visiting westrac.com.au/miningwhitepaper.

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DIGITAL MINING

UNLOCKING THE NEXT FRONTIER OF MINING TECHNOLOGY ASG GROUP’S COLLABORATION WITH PARENT COMPANY NRI INDIA IS SET TO BRING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING TO AUSTRALIA’S MINING INDUSTRY.

dvanced technology is at the crux of productive and efficient modern-day mining operations. This includes artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and data technology, which are at the heart of unlocking the next phase of Australia’s mining legacy. As these technologies mature through the collaboration of companies within the mining supply chain, mines have the chance to benefit greatly from undergoing a digital transformation. ASG Group, a digital transformation provider for the Australian mining industry, is advancing the possibilities in this space. The company, which has longstanding partnerships with SAP, Oracle and Microsoft, has already helped mining companies identify what they need to deliver transformative technology to remove project risks. Its end-to-end solutions can provide cost efficiencies, remove potential threats to an operation, and enable organisations to deliver greater experiences to its end users, customers and suppliers. ASG is owned by Nomura Research

Institute (NRI), headquartered in Japan, but operates separately. ASG is, however, planning to collaborate with NRI India to expand its offerings in Australia’s mining industry. This means NRI India’s portfolio of predictive analytics, AI and machine learning that have been tested globally, will be available in Australia through ASG. ASG Group executive general manager, capability and consulting Marcus D’Castro says the distribution of NRI India’s portfolio will strengthen the value of digital transformation for mine sites. “The mining and natural resources sector is a cornerstone of the Australian economy and is an industry supported by numerous advanced enterprise applications and operational systems,” D’Castro tells Australian Mining. “As a result, large data sets across multiple systems are available, which – if used properly – support significant efficiency gains and resolution of specific business and operational issues. “There is great potential to further create and support intelligent enterprises. NRI and ASG have the experience and track record

ASG PLANS TO COLLABORATE WITH NRI INDIA TO EXPAND WHAT IT OFFERS.

AUSTRALIANMINING

ASG GROUP IS A DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PROVIDER FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY.

to work with our customers and make this a reality.” NRI India’s key solutions include digital and data strategy to provide a wide assessment and roadmap for a mine site. The company has an in-house team of data scientists, data engineering, and management consultants that provide digital transformation solutions for mine sites. NRI India partner and group head – strategic design & digital transformation Atreyi Chaudhuri says: “NRI’s suite of intelligent solutions offer demand forecasting which uses machine learning to accurately predict demand for production, including power consumption, to reduce costs from any deficits that might occur. “Machine learning is also used for quality control analytics to simulate and predict grade and quality of finished production through the adjustment of critical input materials.” The solutions created by ASG and NRI India use the same platforms, but can adapt to local uses, such as specific environment conditions in Australia. NRI India’s technologies have been tried and tested across the globe, with the company bringing its expertise from across the world. It has also previously brought efficiency and cost effectiveness to mining companies in India through its

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digital transformation projects. “At ASG, we work with our customers to find, design and implement solutions that make sense based on the specific requirements,” D’Castro says. “We reference proven technologies and leverage intellectual property (IP) while keeping an open mind. We always acknowledge that success is found in the detail and each use case has unique characteristics. “We follow a collaborative approach, with a focus on other key ingredients for success such as a human centred design, management of organisational change, strong program management, as well as the underlying technologies and data sciences.” ASG hopes to use NRI India’s offering to further enhance mining companies’ understanding of their business needs and readiness to introduce transformative technology to save money and time, while ramping up production. “ASG and NRI have pre-packaged and tested/proven IP available for our customers in the mining and natural resources sector, which means that solutions can be designed and implemented rapidly based on relevant use cases,” Chaudhuri says. “(The collaboration) creates a real opportunity for data driven decision making.” AM

DIGITAL MINING

SMART WIRELESS VIBRATION MONITORING FOR LONG-TERM RELIABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY

BEANDEVICE CAN CONNECT TO A BEANGATEWAY FROM UP TO 500 METRES AWAY.

SENSORS HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVELY USED FOR PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE OF ASSETS IN THE MINING INDUSTRY. BESTECH SUPPLIES A WIRELESS SENSOR SYSTEM FROM BEANAIR TO SIMPLIFY INSTALLATION AND LOWER MAINTENANCE COSTS.

umps and machinery generate subtle vibration during normal operations. When an excessive level of vibration is detected, it is usually an early sign of faults and potential failures. The importance of a reliable condition monitoring system is now realised throughout the mining landscape. To support this, Bestech supplies the BeanAir wireless sensor system that can be integrated into Internet of Things (IoT) applications. “We supply sensors, instrumentation and data acquisition systems to support the high demand of testing in the mining industry,” Bestech product specialist Jeremy Bryceson tells Australian Mining. Some mining-related applications, such as asset predictive maintenance and monitoring, require the installation of sensors that can reliably operate in harsh and high-risk environment. Bestech has supplied precision sensors and measurement technology, as well as data acquisition systems since 2002. It has offices across Australia’s east coast and another near completion in Perth. The company established a partnership with German-based sensor company, BeanAir, in 2011. Through this collaboration, Bestech is authorised to supply BeanAir wireless sensor systems and data acquisition in Oceania. “The BeanAir’s wireless sensor series consists of three components: sensors, a communication gateway and monitoring software,” Bryceson says. “The BeanAir Smart Sensor series measures physical parameters such

as vibration, shock, angle, tilt and temperature. The measured data are wirelessly transmitted to the BeanDevice communication gateway. The users can monitor the data in realtime through the supervision software.” Wireless sensors have started to gain interest compared with conventional sensor technology. The cost of the wireless sensors can be slightly higher than the wiredalternatives, however, it significantly eases the installation work and reduces labour costs. Overall, they reduce the initial capital investment and ongoing operating costs. “Using wireless sensors reduces the complexity of the installation as it doesn’t require complex wiring and cabling design. The sensors can be simply installed at the intended measurement point and the users can monitor the data in real-time in the control room,” Bryceson says. “Wireless sensor systems also simplify the process of data acquisition. One BeanDevice communication gateway can handle multiple BeanAir Smart Sensors as long as they are within 500 metres of the wireless line of sight.” Having a remote monitoring system is a valuable asset for an asset maintenance tea, as it offers the capability to pre-emptively diagnose equipment failure. Furthermore, the BeanAir wireless sensors are readily available for IoT integration, providing huge potential for long-lasting and longterm monitoring. The BeanAir wireless sensors have built-in data logging capability to store up to one million data points. They also feature a smart shock detection system for ultra-low power consumption and lossless data transmission technology for AUSTRALIANMINING

reliable data transfer. “When designing a long-term monitoring system, it is crucial to ensure that the sensors can operate reliably. There is no guarantee that a power supply will be available on site, especially in the mining environment,” Bryceson says. “The ultralow power consumption of BeanAir Smart Sensors allows them to operate reliably for the long term. The sensors can also be charged with flexible power supply options such as solar energy, without relying on power point. “As the sensor is also equipped with the smart shock detection system, it will stay asleep most of the time to save on power consumption and only activates when the vibration level reaches a certain threshold. “It will record the necessary data which the site personnel can utilise to understand the current health of the monitored infrastructure. Once the vibration level drops below the threshold, the sensor will return to the sleep mode.” Bestech provides a comprehensive suite of training for its customers to get the best out of its products. Bryceson says this is in response to a constantly evolving industry, in need of upgrading and upskilling. “As we grow and develop with the local industry, we continually expand our product portfolio to support its measurement challenges and requirements,” Bryceson says. “By learning from industry experts,

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we understand that there are also challenges in training the employees, not just the expansion of technology.” Bestech’s technical training system covers topics such as hydraulics systems or excavator simulation to support the training needs in the mining industry. The training systems are designed with superior safety features, allowing students to safely practice their knowledge on the system without hazards. “We provide full local technical support of any products that we supply. We will be assisting to ensure that the products are correctly installed to get the correct measurement,” Bryceson says. AM

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AVOIDING THE COST OF POOR CONDITION MONITORING IF EVER AN ACTIVITY NEEDED IMPROVING, IT’S CONDITION MONITORING FOR MINING MACHINERY. ENTER SCHAEFFLER’S OPTIME SOLUTION: AN INTUITIVE, INTERCONNECTED AND INEXPENSIVE WAY TO SAVE BUSINESSES TIME AND MONEY ON THE UPKEEP OF ALL THEIR MOVING PARTS.

he wireless OPTIME solution allows mining operations to stay on top of day-to-day activities with the confidence that all machinery is running smoothly. Schaeffler industrial services manager Mark Ciechanowicz explains how important it is to maintain machinery in the current economic environment. “Downtime costs are a major factor, especially when iron ore prices are at an all-time high. In these times you don’t want to be caught in a situation where the plant is down or not running while you need to keep up with production demand,” Ciechanowicz tells Australian Mining. “That’s really what we’re trying to eliminate and OPTIME affords customers that time to be proactive rather than reactive.” OPTIME is a wireless online solution that provides users with a prognosis of their machines’ working status. Through simple stainless steel mounting pads, each sensor can be applied to a machine and bring the user prognostic results in no more than

five minutes. Once attached, each sensor interconnects through to a gateway which sends the data to Schaeffler’s cloud for analysis using specially developed algorithms. The interconnected nature of the sensors and gateway allow for a completely remote and secure network, removing any cybersecurity risk or concerns about the network affecting nearby IT infrastructure. This technology is called a Wirepas Mesh network. As Ciechanowicz explains, the network caters to operations of any size as the sensors all talk to each other. “It’s literally plug and play out of the box. Once the gateway is powered up, the sensors can then be provisioned to find their own path to the gateway. It really lends itself to long distance communication,” Ciechanowicz says. “We’re talking 100 metres between

STAINLESS STEEL MOUNTING PADS CAN BE APPLIED TO A MACHINE, BRINGING EACH SENSOR ONLINE IN UNDER FIVE MINUTES.

AUSTRALIANMINING

THE INTERCONNECTED NATURE OF THE SENSORS AND GATEWAY ALLOWS FOR A REMOTE AND SECURE NETWORK.

sensors, as well as between the sensors and the gateways. But that doesn’t mean we’re restricted to 100 metres because each sensor acts as a repeater. You could in fact have sensors that are hundreds of metres from the gateway.” The OPTIME solution is incredibly intuitive and only relies on the user providing as much meta data as possible. The more meta data – in this case, information about each machine – the more effective the technology will be. Anything from the type of bearings to the number of gear teeth will help OPTIME in alerting customers to mechanical problems such as imbalances, misalignments, mechanical looseness, lubrication issues and more. The technology is controlled through a mobile app which is easily downloadable from your chosen app store. From the app, the user can input meta data, view the status of tens, hundreds or thousands of machines and get on top of any maintenance activities which may be coming up. With a lead time of up to two weeks, OPTIME will be saving customers time and money by removing any painful downtime waits for parts or people to arrive. “A lot of mining sites in Australia, they are remote, and this poses a lot of challenges,” Ciechanowicz says. “One is in getting the inventory or the spare parts to site if they don’t have them in stock. Two is getting the human resources, whether internally or subcontracting, deployed to site.” OPTIME has two options to choose from, depending on the user’s application, but only one option for battery life – five years. “The other thing that is key is the

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way it has been designed from the ground up, and they’ve designed a cost-effective solution. Our battery life is very competitive. These wireless products usually only give up to three years, so five years is remarkable,” Ciechanowicz says. As for the two options, both measure temperature and vibration, but the second option provides the most comprehensive analysis. “One is the AW-3 which is a sensor that measures vibration and temperature that goes up to 3000 hertz max frequency. And the other sensor is the AW-5 which goes up to 5000 hertz,” Ciechanowicz says. “We believe the higher the frequency you go the more advanced prognosis you have of impending doom – that is, in a nutshell, why we lean towards a higher frequency.” At a time when COVID-19 restrictions have disallowed so many regular on-site maintenance activities, the OPTIME solution is perfect for remote conditioning monitoring for mine sites of any size or location. Remote condition monitoring is increasingly becoming the norm, and it’s thanks to Schaeffler’s OPTIME solution that such activities can take place. With an ability to integrate seamlessly into any operation, working side by side with existing infrastructure, there’s little reason not to take advantage of this intuitive, interconnected and inexpensive monitoring solution. AM Mark Ciechanowicz will be presenting further on this topic in a webinar hosted by Australian Mining together with Schaeffler on July 7. For more information, readers can go to: www. australianmining.com.au/webinars

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DIGITAL MINING

UNLOCKING INTEGRATED PROJECT CONTROLS

THE INTEGRATED PROJECT CONTROLS SOFTWARE ALSO TAKES CARE OF ASSET HEALTH ESTIMATIONS.

INEIGHT’S INTEGRATED PROJECT CONTROLS SOFTWARE ALLOWS MINING COMPANIES TO CAPTURE AND MANAGE OPERATIONAL DATA REMOTELY, SAVING TIME AND MONEY IN THE PROCESS.

o successfully manage any mining operation, it’s integral for operators to keep up to date with the latest data and statistics relative to a site’s performance. Outdated data analysis techniques can compromise thousands of dollars’ worth of productivity if a fault in a mining project is not addressed. This is because traditional data analysis, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, can take weeks to provide critical information about a mining operation, leaving operators in the dark about operationhalting issues that could be prevented if they were discovered sooner. As technology advances, real-time solutions have been refined, allowing productivity and cost data to be clearly identified both remotely and in real time. Heavy industry technology specialist InEight has delivered field-tested data management software that allows mining and construction operations to manage risks and keep project costs in proportion. At its core, InEight’s integrated controls software delivers real-time information about a mine site to prevent any project-related surprises. InEight executive vice president, industry engagement Rick Deans says the company’s real-time integrated

project controls software helps miners visualise the health of their assets. “Mining companies – whether they’re an owner producing ore or a contractor – they’re getting paid to produce, not to run around, collect information and put it in reports,” Deans tells Australian Mining. “By integrating estimating, project controls, field data collection, document management, contracts and change management functions, it allows for a more seamless flow of data across these applications. “Information becomes more available to companies that need it versus companies having to stop what they’re doing to find it.” A key benefit to the real-time software is it takes care of asset health estimations, flagging key trends before major issues arise, as health, safety, environmental and business risks are all minimised by the software. According to Deans, InEight’s integrated project controls software can adapt costs to schedule. The software adds another element to help operators understand when money will be spent, rather than just how much will have to be invested into a project. “In many cases the ‘when’ is just as important as the ‘how much’,” Deans says. “It gives folks the ability to timephase their budgets and helps with understanding resource utilisation.” Cost management is a vital part of a AUSTRALIANMINING

successful mining operation. Deans says traditional ERP systems are not timely due to their month end close procedure. “You’re flying blind until the ERP tells you how you did five weeks ago,” Deans says. InEight’s solution allows for data to be shown in real time instead, providing significant advantages across an entire operation. “ERP systems aren’t very friendly from a forward-looking perspective,” he says. “They’re very good to find things that have happened in the past, but they’re not really helping me look forward and solve tomorrow’s problems,” Deans says. “It allows workers to make decisions on the job site about moving some resources from some overperforming activities to underperforming activities.” This also leans into the seamless data flow between contractors and owners, preventing any barriers in project management due to all assets being on the same real-time platform, enhancing visibility in contract performance. The integrated project controls software also enables earned value management to prevent the guessing game that is often associated with project health. “They’re going to gain or lose costs and workforce hours during the course

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of that effort, so management wants to be able to see before they commit a resource,” Deans says. For Deans, the software mitigates the requirement for disorganised spreadsheets and instead streamlines data on a single platform. “As estimates are built and changes occur, we need all project team members to log into that live instance of the estimate to track who made the change, when the change was made and how the cost was estimated. How did that affect this particular section of the work breakdown structure?” Deans asks. “I think many companies have been in cases where we’re in a meeting and the project cost is from $50 million to $65 million. “Spreadsheets won’t give you that information unless you have intimate knowledge of what those values were as opposed to bringing up an audit log to show the specifics of every change.” With the mining world rapidly evolving to a more tech-savvy environment, Deans says there is no reason for miners not to adopt a solution like InEight’s integrated project controls software. “A lot of folks ask us, how do we get started with something like this?” he says. “I always encourage folks to plant a shade tree in one’s backyard either 15 years ago or today.” AM

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BRINGING DATA TOGETHER LIKE NEVER BEFORE AS MINING COMPANIES FACE THE CHALLENGE OF TRYING TO BALANCE THE EXTRACTION AND PROCESSING OF MINERALS WITH SUSTAINABLE MINING TECHNIQUES, CONTROL LOGIC’S UNIQUE PRODUCTS SOLVE MANY PROBLEMS IN THIS WAY.

ontrol Logic product marketing manager Martin Daines describes Red Lion’s FlexEdge as a product developed by a research and development (R&D) team that has made a long wish list with an endless budget. FlexEdge provides a scalable solution to integrate complex multivendor environments into digital transformation strategies, while providing a future-proof solution for changing application needs. “In simplest terms, the Red Lion FlexEdge is a flexible edge device for the industrial sector that solves multiple problems,” Daines says. “In fact, too many (problems) because it’s impossible to label this product into a specific box.” With its connectivity being modular and forward-thinking, the product natively supports 4G, GPS, Wifi, Ethernet, USB, Serial, and real-world digital and analogue IO. However, Daines says that as today’s technology becomes obsolete tomorrow, Red Lion’s R&D team develops new interfaces to match future needs.

RED LION DA70 AND DA50 FLEXEDGE.

“This means that investing in a product like the FlexEdge adapts and grows with the business over time,” he says. Daines calls FlexEdge an evolution of the Red Lion Data Station. In 2004, Red Lion released a HMI that supported over 300 industrial protocols and had the ability to map data between any protocol. Red Lion essentially pioneered Industry 4.0 by transforming the HMI into a din rail Data Station with loads of connectivity, including OPC UA and SQL. “This meant big brand name PLCs could now talk to each other effortlessly and cost-effectively. The Data Station has a web server to host the graphical HMI pages, a data logger that produced excel files and an alarm manager to email these logs to anybody,” Daines explains. “Now fast forward to today, the FlexEdge has the Data Station abilities plus IEC61131 RTU Logic Control and a secure firewall with VPN, NAT, DMZ, VLAN and RADIUS support, to name a few. “Together, the FlexEdge brings nearly two decades of industrial automation to the IT realm, effectively bridging the gap between process and business systems, business logic deployed at the edge” However, Daines says what binds everything together is Red Lion’s free programming software Crimson, which configures everything from firmware, VPN, protocol conversion, ladder logic control, data logging and web pages. He says, modern technology has opened new ways to set new benchmarks in productivity. Companies looking to enhancing operational excellence will find new opportunities in data analytics from transparent information flows right down to the real-world sensors. Daines says an Australian Tier 1 mining company looked to data analytics for an optimum way to safely manage its environment responsibilities across thousands of AUSTRALIANMINING

FLEXEDGE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SKID.

square kilometres. With hundreds of environmental field sensors strategically positioned around the mine site connected to a solar powered FlexEdge, the company captured environmental dust and water quality metrics. Daines says buffered data is continuously fed to a centrally hosted cloud historian where a dashboard allows the business to make insightful decisions to assist their sustainable mining techniques and regularity compliance. “The FlexEdge is an open platform that enables customers to choose the system architecture that bypasses the burden of existing software limitation, while enhancing cyber security integrity,” Daines says. “This is a massive challenge for mine operators to overcome today. The open platform extends to the field hardware because the various IO and protocols the FlexEdge supports, therefore labquality sensor could be chosen that otherwise wouldn’t be on the table. “FlexEdge makes implementation straightforward, repeatable, reliable, secure and scalable through Red Lion’s mass deployment HMTL dashboard tool, Sixveiw Manager.”

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Daines says this is why partnering with a company like Control Logic, which has capabilities across all industries in different capacities with access to over 20 global suppliers, is advantageous. “In the same way, we partner with our suppliers to get the resolve for our customers,” he says. As a supplier of industrial, electrical and automation products, services and solutions since 1981, Control Logic is committed to collaborating with customers to understand what is driving their business, delivering optimal solutions and building mutual respect and trust. Control Logic aims to continue offering a comprehensive solutions portfolio in proficiencies such as operational cybersecurity, networking and control that enables customers to effectively meet their challenges at each process stage – from extraction to transportation and benefaction. “With our integrated approach, solutions for the digitalisation of plants and processes, and profound industry expertise, we can help improve your overall plant performance and secure your longterm competitiveness,” Daines concludes. AM

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STRENGTH AND STRATEGY AT ACE’S HEART

ACE TESTS ALL OF ITS PRODUCT EXTENSIVELY AT THE FACTORY AND ON SITE.

END TO END, PIT TO PORT – WHICHEVER YOU LIKE TO CALL IT – AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS ENGINEERING (ACE) IS EXPANDING ITS WEAR SOLUTIONS TO REINFORCE THE MINING INDUSTRY.

here ceramic asset protection solutions were once more of a niche product, ACE managing director Paul Devine says any investment in the longevity of mining equipment is now cause for consideration. For this reason, the opportunity to expand ACE’s presence across the supply chain was integral for Devine when he moved into his role in August 2020.

“We don’t just want to be at the tertiary end of mining producers, we want to go back down that conveyor stream, all the way back to pit,” Devine tells Australian Mining. “We’ve looked at a number of different efficiencies in being able to deliver that out to the market and looked at where the biggest needs are for miners. “Those needs are based on a number of different things. Not only that they maintain and keep their infrastructure up and running, but

BEFORE MAKING IT TO PIT OR PORT, THE KEECH FOUNDRY ASSURES QUALITY IN EACH PRODUCT.

AUSTRALIANMINING

more importantly, it’s extending those infrastructure change-out times to give them more benefit through more production.” In April, ACE acquired Keech, in line with Devine’s vision for the company to cover all mining wear solutions. Keech designs and manufactures steel castings for GET (ground engagement tools), domestically and internationally, and ACE saw it as a perfect fit going forward. “We spent some time talking with Keech about the business and the business model,” Devine says. “We both came to an agreement that we thought would carry on their business and live up to the name they’ve had on it for the last 80 years. “Really, (ACE) fits out rotables and some fixed plant, whereas Keech is more of a mobile plant provider with their GET.” Not only is Keech a reputable manufacturer, but the company has remained on Australian shores for its entire life – something Devine sees as essential in the acquisition as industry realises the fragility of international supply chains. “We were looking at people who were quality providers of this material at the front of blade,” Devine says. “Just as importantly, they’re an onshore foundry and nearly all of our clients are asking for that supply chain mitigation. To be able to provide that to clients is a big benefit to them and to us as a supplier.” Keech also provides ACE with a wider price range, as different customers opt for a certain quality of product. “The Keech product model is different – they wear out far quicker – so we’re balancing our product set by having far more consumable products, as well as the commodity product that ACE has currently,” Devine adds.

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Through testing and customer case studies, ACE has found that its wear protection systems increase the life of assets by 40 to 500 per cent. Devine says the testing process is becoming more extensive all the time, as technology develops and site tests become lengthier through improved product quality. A number of 3D printers and metallurgical engineers are involved in the factory testing process for ACE, before taking a product to site and assessing its feasibility in the hands of a client. “Through innovation, we’re extending the life of assets from 12 to 20 weeks. Some of the products that we line can last 60 weeks,” Devine says. “Testing is something we spend a lot of time on as it’s probably the most important part of the process. To develop a product is not a simple process. “In most cases, it takes several years to develop it to a point where you have a product that fulfils the requirements of the client.” Moving forward, ACE is working on four different projects that provide better wear solutions for its clients. Additionally, a growing focus on the remote condition monitoring of its ceramic wear solutions should come to the fore, as ACE and Keech continue to grow. “ACE first came into the market as a market disruptor, providing ceramic products at a far more competitive price and developed that product to the point it’s at now,” Devine says. “Now, it’s more about how the product can be used more efficiently and providing feedback to the market about its wearability and how that particular asset is wearing. “We’re looking far more at being able to provide data back to the client, which is suitable for them in a format that is meaningful.” AM

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Condition monitoring can be expensive. Which is why up to 95% of all machines inside factories are only sporadically monitored, or often not at all. This can lead to unplanned breakdowns and downtime. OPTIME from Schaeffler allows for comprehensive condition monitoring that is both easy and affordable. Thanks to its simple plug & play installation, OPTIME allows you to start monitoring hundreds of rotating machines in just a few hours. www.schaeffler.com.au

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DRILL & BLAST

EPIROC LEADS AN EVOLUTION IN DRILLING EPIROC HAS UNLEASHED THE FANGS OF THE PIT VIPER PV-231 ROTARY BLASTHOLE DRILL IN AUSTRALIA WITH OZLAND EMERGING AS THE FIRST BUYER OF THE MACHINE.

hen choosing a new drill rig, the key demand is simple: how can you put a hole in the ground as efficiently as possible? Epiroc recognises this need and has applied the approach to its newly launched Pit Viper PV-231 rotary blasthole drill. The single pass drill represents a new chapter in the Epiroc drill portfolio, with the ability to be used in rotary and DTH (down-the-hole) drilling applications. It can be configured with a 435 PSI compressor that features low pressure loss. Epiroc has designed the drill to provide minimal pressure loss between the compressor and the hammer – something that’s allowed the Pit Viper PV-231 to harness the power of higher range drills within its mid-range, costeffective package. “In Epiroc’s matrix, the PV-231 falls under mid-range in terms of price and size, but its capabilities are geared towards the large range of the market,” Epiroc product manager – surface division Milan Ivovic tells Australian Mining. Its minimal pressure loss allows the drill to handle the demands of any original equipment manufacturer (OEM) hammer. This also allows the PV-231 to be more fuel efficient to save on operating costs, while reducing the carbon footprint of the drill. To further improve energy efficiency, the PV-231 can be configured with Epiroc’s new generation hydraulic operation clutch to reduce between 5 and 20 per cent of the drill’s fuel consumption. The PV-231 has a 16-metre reach in a single pass, which was previously not seen in its predecessor, the Epiroc PV-235. “We have learnt where there are some areas of improvement from the PV-235,” Ivovic says. “The PV-231 is an evolution of that model.” The PV-235 is trusted by many operators across the globe due to its productivity and efficiency gains, with the PV-231 designed to

THE EPIROC PIT VIPER PV-231 CAN BE USED IN ROTARY AND DOWN-THE-HOLE DRILLING APPLICATIONS.

AUSTRALIANMINING

JULY 2021

build upon that reputation. Epiroc business line manager Alex Grant says the OEM’s competitors need to use a larger size drill to achieve a 16-metre single pass. “We’re the only one to do a 16-metre single pass in this class of rig with technology capability,” Grant tells Australian Mining. “Most competitors would have to go to a larger size to get that same depth for one piece of drill steel.” Epiroc has also designed the PV-231 to be autonomous-ready. This means customers can purchase the drill for manual operations and use Epiroc’s plug-and-play technology to upgrade its automated capabilities. “Because with autonomous drill you’re not abusing the machine; the machine is instead data driven, allowing it to understand on its own the resistance of the ground to adjust accordingly and perform with a longer life,” Ivovic says. “Rather than people guessing what is that optimum range, automation allows drilling to take place and do the same job at any time of the day or year.”

A formidable partnership

To ensure the PV-231 is up to standard, Epiroc trialled the machine at a gold mine in the United States for 18 months. Epiroc also reached out to drill and blast services provider Ozland to give one of its long-time customers an opportunity to be the first to use the PV-231 in Australia. The two companies have been working together for 11 years with Ozland buying its first Epiroc machine nine years ago. “We thought Ozland was a good partner to bring the first in country,” Grant says. “We like someone who represents the product as well. They have been successful with our PV-235. That’s why they were a good choice for us.” According to Ozland director – operations, Greg Morris, the drill and blast company has continued to trust Epiroc’s machines and support services “It’s mainly their technology, fuel efficiency and parts and technical support, too, across regional areas of

DRILL & BLAST

Western Australia,” Morris says. “One of the most valuable aspects of our relationship with Epiroc is their flexibility. They move with us when we need to move. If we ask them to do something, they partner with us and meet demands. “We have a good personal relationship with their management team and advisors as well.” According to Ozland director – plant, Kevin Fitzgerald, the PV-231 has saved the company significant costs during operation. “It’s less capital intensive compared to the 271 and gives us the same depth through single pass,” Fitzgerald says. “We’re first adopters of a lot of Epiroc’s machines. We’ve previously been test adopters of the D65 and T45 drills and we’ve pushed their hole navigation system really hard.” Fitzgerald appreciates the speed of Epiroc’s services and delivery of equipment due to the fast-paced nature of the mining industry. “We don’t get a lot of time to mobilise, our clients leave contracts to the last minute, so the time it takes is important,” Fitzgerald says. Epiroc key customer manager Tony Sorgiovanni says the company’s relationship with Ozland is a testament to its industry partner’s enthusiasm for adopting advanced technology. “Ozland has been pleasantly

THE EPIROC PIT VIPER PV-231 ROTARY BLASTHOLE DRILL.

surprised with the performance of the PV-231,” he says. “The rig does everything that they thought it would – it meets the production levels they require, and the redesign of the machine’s layout has also been praised.” Ozland’s fleet of Epiroc machines also includes automated models, including the SmartROC D65 surface

drill rig, which can deliver automated drilling and rod handling. The drilling and blasting services company also uses Epiroc’s SmartROC T45 tophammer drill, which offers similar capabilities. “It is rare for contractors to be as open to automation and innovation in a way that Ozland has embraced it,” Sorgiovanni says. “They are willing to

promote the benefits of automation.” Sorgiovanni expects the PV-231 rig to be popular in the Australian market because of its appeal to the mid-tier market of drilling rigs. “The PV-231 is the evolution of the PV-235,” he says. “Due to its affordability and performance capabilities, we think this machine will be a volume seller here for sure.” AM

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COMMUNICATIONS

WORKER WELFARE AND SAFETY A TOP FOCUS FOR VOCUS THE SPECIALIST FIBRE AND NETWORK SOLUTIONS PROVIDER IS EXPANDING ON ITS CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS CREATING INCREASED DEMAND FOR ITS SERVICES.

ocus has revealed plans to upgrade and extend its existing network, including a 2000-kilometre network of new and existing fibre between Port Hedland and Perth via Newman, Meekatharra and Geraldton. According to Vocus national lead for resources, mining and utilities Simon Head, the investment, named Project Horizon, will be the single largest infrastructure project seen in Australia’s north west since the completion of the company’s NorthWest Cable System. “Project Horizon will complete the western ring in our national network and will connect Perth to Darwin via major resources operations hubs both terrestrially and offshore,” he says. “The Horizon system will be designed with transmission capacity starting at 38 terabits per second per fibre pair, giving us a clear upgrade path to support much higher capacity as demand requires it. “More and more we are seeing a heavy demand for our services as more bandwidth is required primarily to cope with the proliferation of data, which is now being generated by these organisations. “It is the data which organisations are now able to leverage to make

better decisions, and that is where they are seeing a lot more reward for their business.” Vocus account director for natural resources Benedict Boylson says the company is also pursuing plans to connect its North West Cable System to its Australia Singapore Cable. “We have got some significant investment in subsea fibre as well,” Boylson says. This would create the first international connection from Darwin to Singapore, establishing a new international cable entry point to Australia. “It would also provide another ring in our national fibre network, providing additional redundancy for both domestic and international carriage, including two low-latency paths to mining, oil and gas sites,” Boylson says. Head says Vocus operates almost 30,000 kilometres of high-capacity terrestrial fibre between all mainland capitals and regional centres in Australia. “This established, secure network can provide upwards of 50 times the capacity provisioned today and we are already upgrading our key inter-capital direct routes,” he says. “As technology improves, we expect to be able to expand beyond this. Our network is connected to 150 data centres, making Vocus among the most

PROJECT HORIZON WILL BE THE SINGLE LARGEST INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT SEEN IN AUSTRALIA’S NORTH WEST.

AUSTRALIANMINING

VOCUS NATIONAL LEAD FOR RESOURCES, MINING AND UTILITIES SIMON HEAD.

connected fibre operators in Australia.” Boylson says worker welfare in terms of connectivity with family while on site is a major focus for the company. “Providing fly-in, fly-out workers with a home away from home in terms of being able to stream video, FaceTime with family has become a strong focus for mining operations,” Boylson says. “We are a big player in connectivity in terms of welfare which is really satisfying from my point of view. It is about getting the families of workers involved with aspects of mining and in many cases, it is the workers only opportunity to be able to connect with those at home. “It is important they have the same level of connectivity as they have at home, which keeps people connected. “It is a highly competitive workforce so people are making decisions about where they work based on their roster, which would be number one priority; food is probably number two and number three would be around connectivity and entertainment. “If you don’t have good connectivity then workers will move to other sites.” Head says the current drive for mining companies to move to remote operations had driven high demand for Vocus’ services. “Fibre connectivity has allowed the implementation of automation of on-site tasks to relocate workers from project sites to the office or remote

JULY 2021

VOCUS ACCOUNT DIRECTOR FOR NATURAL RESOURCES BENEDICT BOYLSON.

operations centres,” he says. “The industry is also looking to meet ESG (environment, social and governance) obligations and implementing ways to make positive changes that are safer, more efficient and more sustainable. “Increased use of automation and AI to reduce mining footprints and the impact on the environment have increased the need for integrated solutions. “Companies are also looking to cater for the skill-set requirements and the mental health and wellbeing of workers in a changing, technology-focussed environment on and off the site.” Boylson says the company’s infrastructure has the potential to benefit remote communities in the north west. “When you build a fibre asset, you can use technology to provide connectivity off that fibre backhaul to regional and remote communities easily and affordably,” he says. “Our infrastructure is also servicing backhaul for the space industry through new ground station technology in the exciting LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite arena. “We are currently seeing the benefits of satellite connectivity to remote locations where fibre still doesn’t reach. As the demands for bandwidth continue to increase, satellite technology is evolving to bring higher speeds with a real reduction in latency.” AM

MINING SERVICES

OUTSTANDING BRAKES FOR RAIL-MOUNTED MINING AND PORT EQUIPMENT THERE ARE CERTAIN INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE MINING INDUSTRY THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO AVOID CATASTROPHE. SVENDBORG’S RAIL-MOUNTED STORM BRAKES ARE AN INDISPENSABLE ASSET TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF BOTH PEOPLE AND EQUIPMENT.

ltra Industrial Motion’s brand Svendborg Brakes has a history in braking solutions dating back to the 1800s and has developed solutions for the mining industry for more than 30 years. Svendborg Brakes has just released the latest in rail-mounted braking systems, called Storm Brakes. Svendborg Brakes application engineer Mads Willum is an essential member of the Altra Motion – Svendborg Brakes team and explains the importance of Storm Brakes. “Storm brakes are devices which provide braking forces on the crane rails or crane wheels for railmounted material handling cranes, onshore or inland,” Willum tells Australian Mining. “They prevent a crane from uncontrolled moving along the rails in a case of sudden gusts of wind. “Storm Brakes, also known as SVENDBORG’S RAIL CLAMPS LOCK RAIL-MOUNTED EQUIPMENT IN PLACE AND ARE FULLY RETRACTABLE.

‘parking brakes’, are specially designed for stackers, reclaimers, ship loaders, outdoor cranes and any rail-mounted material handling equipment at risk of an unplanned movement incident.” Altra Industrial Motion national sales manager Rex Sinclair says the acquisition of an industry leader like Svendborg Brakes in 2013 significantly expanded the company’s global presence. Sinclair adds that rail-mounted brakes have faced issues in the past, which Storm Brakes mitigate. “There have been situations with these kinds of brakes on ship loaders where a storm has come along and blown them down the rails,” Sinclair says. The additional safety benefits of Svendborg’s Storm Brakes include there being no need for lubrication, easier maintenance and fewer hands on the equipment at risk of injury. To cater to its customers’ specific needs, Svendborg offers a range of models which can be applied to various rail conditions. Whether a rail is new, mushroomed, worn, has splice or angle bars, is buried in asphalt or is surrounded by bulk materials like iron ore, Svendborg has a Storm Brake to suit. The rail clamp is a type of Storm Brake which applies pressure to both sides of the rail,

AUSTRALIANMINING

THE STORM BRAKES COME IN AN ELECTRIC (PICTURED) OR HYDRAULIC OPTION.

which Willum says ensures the equipment is incapable of getting away from an operator. “The rail clamp ensures 100 per cent fixation of the equipment, so it doesn’t move, and rail clamps are designed to release and retract completely from the railhead,” Willum says. Rail brakes, alternatively, apply pressure to the top of the rail using the machine’s weight. Svendborg also offers a third wheel brake system as part of the Storm Brake range, which provides a combination option between the brake and clamp – applying force to the idler wheel flange of the machine. Willum explains how Storm Brakes avoid the need for lubrication, using a clever design to protect the product. “Rail clamps are the devices which apply on both sides of the railhead with a mechanism designed to have provision for vertical and horizontal float to accommodate potential rail deviations,” Willum says. “Our design allows for very easy floating with minimal side loads, and there is no possibility of mechanism jamming. Protecting the rail clamp, so they do not rub on the rail and

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get easily worn out. “Poorly designed floating mechanism with float blocks must be lubricated to function, especially in the dusty environments.” Storm Brakes also come in a hydraulic or electric option, removing the need for hydraulic oils. “If hydraulics are deemed a risk for whatever reason, or hydraulics are not wanted, the electric option is a viable solution,” Willum says. While producing fewer emissions through the lack of hydraulic oil, the electric option also involves less maintenance. “An electric Storm Brake generally has a non-pollution advantage compared to hydraulic controlled – in an electric unit, there are no circulating hydraulic oils,” Willum says. With an electric/hydraulic option, retractable clamp for easy installation and removal, and integration with Svendborg’s IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) software platform for condition monitoring, the competitive advantages of Storm Brakes cover all bases. Svendborg’s Storm Brakes are the latest advanced solution to keep in touch with industry standards and avoid failures in railmounted operations. AM

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MINING SERVICES

TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS OF SUPPLYING THE HIGHEST QUALITY VALVES BUILT ON A HISTORY OF RELIABLE GLOBAL MANUFACTURERS AND QUALITY BRANDS, THE VALVE COMPANY’S (TVC) LONGEVITY IN THE MINING INDUSTRY IS LARGELY DUE TO ITS EXPERIENCED STAFF, WELL-STOCKED WAREHOUSES, FAST QUOTE TURNAROUND TIMES, PROJECT SCOPING AND OTHER REPAIR AND OVERHAUL SERVICES.

stablished in a Perth office in 1994, TVC has expanded its business from Perth and Kalgoorlie to Bunbury and Brisbane. Specialising in valves, actuation, controls and associated pipeline equipment, TVC business development manager Adam Mason

DEZURIK EXTENDED SERVICE LIFE CAST KNIFE GATE VALVES.

says the company has tailored its services for some of the biggest names in the mining, maritime and water industries. “TVC has been servicing the mining industry for over 27 years with our own TVC branded butterfly, ball and check valves, as well a well-known international brands,” Mason says. “We are also the exclusive provider of DeZURIK products for Australia, a high quality, longestablished international name,

DEZURIK’S KSL-LA SLURRY KNIFE GATE VALVES.

AUSTRALIANMINING

proven and trusted by multiple industries.” Mason says being a stockist is an important aspect of the company. In response to COVID-19, TVC expanded its operations to Queensland by opening a warehouse and office in Brisbane, with future plans for expansion into other states. With transport and shipping delays affecting the delivery of products due to the pandemic, TVC introduced a better planning process and stock ordering model, enabling it to hold more of the needed stock in Australia. “With Western Australia and Queensland being two of the biggest mining states in Australia, we wanted to expand our business,” Mason says. “Hence the addition of two new warehouse facilities in the past 10 months in these two states. “By establishing ourselves in Brisbane, we are now able to warehouse stock over east and have a better access to the Queensland market. “As a stockist you need to ensure you have products and range available, and be able to deliver it. Having that available stock ensures there is less downtime of the plant, which improves productivity for the customer.” Managing director Ross Barlow says the expertise of TVC’s staff across Australia enables the company to understand the capabilities, limitations and workarounds in flow control technology, so it responds with practical solutions. Plus, the company always strives to ensure that its staff are locals with experience in their regions where they are appointed. “We have years of experience sourcing valves from our global network of stockist and manufacturing plants,” he says. Mason emphasises that selecting the correct valve for mining operations is paramount for efficient, productive and reliable plant operations. He says the right product helps

JULY 2021

WE ASSIST IN PROVIDING SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY, AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND QUALITY STANDARDS.” automate processes and extend plant life cycles, reducing downtime and improving return of investment. “We assist in providing solutions to improve safety and efficiency, and ensure compliance with environmental and quality standards, we have recently increased our capabilities to manage large-scale projects, providing products with experience, expertise and solutions,” Mason says. “Our valves can improve the operating performance of plant and pipelines and our ongoing servicing, fitting and testing can ensure optimal performance throughout their life cycle.” Mason says TVC’s DeZURIK Knife Gate range is widely used in the mining industry, especially for isolating slurry. The DeZURIK Extended Service Life Cast Knife Gate Valves (KGCES) include five different slurryfocused valves and are designed for improved sealing, extended packing life and reduced maintenance. Additionally, the KGC-BD Knife Gate Valve is made to handle clean, dirty, viscous and corrosive liquids, sludge and fibrous slurries. DeZURIK’s KUL Urethane Lined Knife Gate Valves are produced for on-off applications of abrasive slurry and dry abrasive materials, with KSL-LA Slurry Knife Gate Valves designed for on-off (isolation) service for applications. With years of experience sourcing and supplying valves, TVC has become a premier stockist and supplier for a variety of high-quality standard and custom-made products to Australia’s heavy industry. AM

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MINING SERVICES

LIFTING HEAVY WEIGHTS FOR NYRSTAR HOBART THE STRENGTHS OF TITAN LIFTING PRODUCTS AND WEBSTERBSC HAVE COMBINED TO HELP NYSTAR ESTABLISH A SAFE AND RELIABLE OPERATION AT ITS LARGE ZINC SMELTER IN HOBART, TASMANIA.

s Craig Johnson, a mechanical team leader at one of the world’s largest zinc smelters, Nyrstar, leads his team through everyday challenges of lifting heavy rigging equipment and supplies, he knows he can rely on the quality of the lifting products the team puts to work: the Titan range of lifting and rigging products. “The quality and reliability of Titan’s products is excellent, I can’t fault them,” Johnson says. A mechanical fitter by profession, Johnson leads a 12-member team of tradespeople that helps maintain machinery within Nyrstar Hobart’s electrolysis and casting department. As a global multi-metals business and a leader in producing zinc and lead front, Nyrstar employs close to 4000 people across its mines, smelters and operations in Europe, the United States and Australia. In Australia, Nyrstar has two operating plants, one in Hobart in Tasmania and another in Port Pirie in South Australia. The Nyrstar Hobart plant, where Johnson works, is one of the world’s largest zinc smelters in terms of production volume, focusing on high value-added products, including a special high-grade zinc (SHG), die-cast alloys (branded EZDA) and continuous galvanizing grade (CGG) alloys. In addition, the site also makes byproducts of copper sulphate, gypsum and sulphuric acid. Johnson’s team of maintenance professionals in the electrolysis and casting department use products such as Titan’s lifting chain slings, chains blocks, shackles and plate clamps for rigging purposes, including shafts, pumps, steel-work fabrication and pipework in the plant. For Johnson, the reliability of the lifting products is defined not just by how rigorously they are tested and certified, but also by the availability of ongoing supply and service. Fortunately, this part is well-covered through a long-standing collaboration between Allan Marketing Group – the company behind the Titan lifting products – and Motion Asia Pacific’s AUSTRALIANMINING

NYRSTAR MECHANICAL TEAM LEADER CRAIG JOHNSON.

businesses in Tasmania, WebsterBSC. “At Nyrstar, it’s critical that the products we use are reliable, safe, are available when we need them and are well serviced,” Johnson says. “Titan fulfills this requirement. They are an all-round service provider, they offer in-house testing, and they are flexible in responding to the company’s needs in-case we have an equipment failure. They can supply the products we need in a hurry.” “WebsterBSC and Titan provide an excellent service, they’re reliable and if we need replacement products, they can deliver them quickly.” What goes behind ensuring the reliability of Titan lifting products is best explained by John Di Michelle, general manager at Allan Marketing Group. As a supplier of heavy lifting equipment such as chain blocks and lever blocks to industries such as mines and quarries, Di Michelle says safety is a key aspect of Titan Lifting Technologies and its products. This is incorporated in the company’s choice of products on offer – including chain, shackles, chain blocks and lever blocks with load protection as a safety mechanism – as well as in the rigorous tests

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and quality assurance practices the company follows. “Our testing process is among the most rigorous in the industry and it’s all to ensure that no sub-standard products are allowed in the market,” Di Michelle says. “There’s no ‘close enough is good enough.’ Regardless of where the products are imported from, we ensure that they undergo quality assurance testing to meet all the specifications and comply with Australian standards. “We also have a good relationship with our manufacturers, and we regularly visit them overseas. Most of the manufacturers we source products from are ISO-9000 accredited, so they have their own certification. “Being a full member with the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) means we must comply with certain criteria of this industry association. There is also a LEEA requirement to have our staff trained and examined in lifting and rigging. We do all of this to ensure we are a leader in the quality assurance side of things.” Moreover, Di Michelle says the focus on stocking more of the lifting products onshore in Australia has helped the company better support

MINING SERVICES

heavy industries like mining. “We have recently expanded our chain range. We used to import a lot of mining chains in bulk for customers, but now we are actually stocking them,” Di Michelle says. “Because we know that the buying patterns have changed, even mining sites may not buy them in bulk anymore, they buy as they need, so we are stocking a lot more chain than we did in the past. “Over the last year, with disruptions in supply, we have been able to keep supporting our customers with additional warehouse space and we are even planning to double our storage capacity by the end of this year. So when it comes to supply, we have our customers covered.” The WebsterBSC branch in Hobart’s Derwent Park has been supporting Nyrstar since 1916. While Nyrstar has gone through substantial growth over the years, including a major acquisition by Trafigura in late 2019, the Derwent Park WebsterBSC branch has been able to keep up. In addition to the lifting products, this has included a diverse range of

SAFETY IS A KEY ASPECT OF TITAN LIFTING TECHNOLOGIES.

bearings and power transmission products from WebsterBSC’s trusted suppliers. Apart from being key suppliers to the Nyrstar Hobart plant, Johnson says what sets WesbterBSC apart as a supplier is its technical knowhow. “The WebsterBSC team do all of our load testing. They test the lifting equipment from each department and certify and tag them so we can continue to work with them safely,” Johnson says. “They keep a register of the equipment we purchase, which makes it really helpful when we restock their products.” He even goes on to specifically mention John Shreeve, the lifting specialist from WebsterBSC Derwent Park that assists Nyrstar with onsite testing and tagging of lifting equipment. “Our experience working with the (WebsterBSC) team has been excellent and they’re always responsive to our needs. John, who we work with at the local branch, is very knowledgeable and professional,” Johnson says. WebsterBSC state sales manager Eddie Lawrence says the team at the Derwent Park branch are all wellqualified to offer expertise around lifting safety practices. “On numerous occasions, the WebsterBSC team have helped Nyrstar with problem-solving. This includes providing special marine chain slings for lifting the salt water pumps in a highly corrosive environment, offering special single leg stainless steel chain slings for use with the water pond pumps and, more recently, the supply of an electric winch to help move and fit large conveyor chains into place,” Lawrence says. “All of these are where (customers

like Nyrstar) require their lifting partner to be at best practice in the field of lifting to keep people safe with quality products and testing processes, to ensure zero failures occur. “Our NATA accreditation ensures we are on top of best practices in this area and our highly experienced staff can offer support and design for all the lifting challenges our customers may throw at us.” AM

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MINING SERVICES

PUMPING UP AUSTRALIAN-MADE AT ALLIGHTSYKES ON ANY DAY, THE DEMANDS OF AUSTRALIAN MINING ARE AMONG THE TOUGHEST IN THE WORLD. THANKFULLY, ALLIGHTSYKES CREATES ITS MINE SPEC LIGHTING TOWERS, GENERATORS AND PUMPS TO ENDURE MORE SO MINE OPERATORS ENDURE LESS.

ining operations can ill afford unscheduled downtime because the lights have gone out or the water cannot be pumped. Thankfully, the executive team at AllightSykes combines for over 100 years of experience in mining, construction, oil, gas and power, which reflects in the quality they provide globally. AllightSykes chief executive officer Gus Elliot has worked across these industries for more than 22 years. He says understanding the importance of reliable products for AllightSykes customers is critical to its operations.

“Manufacturing pumps and lighting towers in Australia and distributing on a global scale is something that we’re incredibly proud of as a business,” Elliot tells Australian Mining. “As an Australian company, selling into that global resource sector is something that we know recognises the reliability and quality of Australian-made product. The international market recognises the Australian mining sector as tough, arid and hard-wearing, and our products are designed and built for that. “We have a well-defined strategic growth plan over the next five years that will see growth in our current areas of operation, which include

Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America, New Zealand and Australia.” AllightSykes is also the official distributor for Perkins engines, which can be found in all of its pumps, gensets and lighting towers. This is something customers value in AllightSykes products, according to Elliot. “Perkins is a Caterpillar-owned company, so it’s backed and supported with a highly reliable and efficient engine, and we support them across all of our national branches,” he says. “That gives a surety of supply and a reliability of quality, and if there’s ever an issue, you’ll be dealing with AllightSykes.”

ALLIGHTSYKES PUMPS CAN BE HEAVILY OPTIONED UP TO ACCOMMODATE END USERS. AUSTRALIANMINING

JULY 2021

Bespoke auxiliary equipment

AllightSykes’ general manager for pumps Glen Priestley says, “the Sykes brand – the pumps part of the business – is a well-known, well-established brand that’s been around for decades, and we’ve stayed true to that.” “As mines have gotten deeper, we’ve provided products that can handle the tougher pumping conditions associated.” Being an onshore factory, AllightSykes can respond fast and reliably with a range of auxiliary equipment. Priestley says AllightSykes’ ability to produce a well-customisable solution is a major drawcard. “Certainly, the miners will come to us with requirements for their specific

MINING SERVICES

site needs, and we’re always willing to accommodate. That could be anything from the materials of construction on the pumps, to where they want the flashing lights,” he says. “It’ll still be our base product, but it will can be heavily optioned up depending on the specific customer requirements and desires.”

Aussie OEM obstacles

As with all growing businesses, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for AllightSykes. Maintaining a manufacturing presence in Australia, where little manufacturing takes place, has been a tall order. Latif Ahmad found his first job in Australia at Allight 16 years ago, before it combined with Sykes. Now, as the general manager for light and power at AllightSykes, Ahmad can reflect on how the challenges were overcome. He says the company has come a long way in how it focuses on manufacturing, benefiting the quality of its products on the market. “We’ve brought on good disciplines and initiatives from the automotive industry, as people have come along to bring new ideas to how we operate,” Ahmad says. “With two well established manufacturing facilities we maintain a strong footprint here in Australia. “The challenge has been trying to find, through our supply chains, smart ways to keep that Australian manufacturing going so that we can put our hand on our hearts and say, ‘this is an Australian-made product’ which services global mining requirements.”

Elliot says the challenges of technological, safety and engineering innovations have allowed the company to remain “at the leading edge of light towers.”

The gateway to Perkins

Of course, no manufacturer would be complete without a reliable aftermarket support network. General manager of AllightSykes aftersales Lee Shillam says the services, parts and distribution departments allow the company to maintain a global presence, 24/7, across all of its brands, with a focus on Australia for Perkins engines and FG Wilson generators. Such breadth of distribution covers both the rental and hire market, and the larger mining market. “Most of our work is in and around domestic construction and hire markets, from a service point of view. In the mining side, parts are supplied for all the major mining companies,” Shillam says. The advantage of an official Perkins distributor is you know you’ll receive unrivalled, reliable parts, according to Shillam. “Our design is probably the main advantage of our parts supply. For our pumps, they’re designed and manufactured by us, so our aftersales advantage is in that genuine parts component,” Shillam says. “We are the gateway to the Perkins engines product. If you buy any Perkins engines product in Australia it will have come through us. The advantage is the unrivalled level of parts and aftersales support.”

ALLIGHTSYKES CEO GUS ELLIOT SAYS THE COMPANY IS AT THE LEADING EDGE OF LIGHT TOWERS.

Priestley and Elliot agree that the company’s products have been known to last well past their target lifetimes, even in harsh environments, particularly when looked after with genuine parts and aftersales support. “We work with our customers with their safety requirements in mind. We’re not cutting corners and our products last years, not months,” Priestley says.

Lighting the way forward

While the future remains uncertain at the best of times, all four AllightSykes representatives agree that environmental targets will play a

ALLIGHTSYKES SUPPLIES ITS EQUIPMENT TO LARGE MINING OPERATIONS IN THE PILBARA REGION.

AUSTRALIANMINING

JULY 2021

major role in the development of the company and those it serves. “Some miners have some impressive targets over the next seven to 10 years, so we’re looking at those solutions now – zero-diesel, as an example,” Ahmad says. AllightSykes keeps sustainable targets in mind, not only in how it benefits its customers, but in the manufacturing process too. “We’re looking at our products themselves – trying to reduce the fuel consumption, trying to tailor our products to a particular environment,” Ahmad says. “In terms of our products on the mine site, we’re trying to reduce the fuel burn for our customers. The amount of time they have to spend maintaining it and refuelling it brings a lot of opportunities, which we are currently offering to some of the big miners right now. “Also, we do look at how we can operate more effectively in our facility to reduce power consumption.” While Shillam says the near term should bring about an enhanced online store for AllightSykes and its aftersales department, further developments in condition monitoring are what really excite him about the future. “In the longer term, the real one I would like to focus on is around data analytics. The industry has been moving in this direction with a focus on getting information in real time and in advance. It would mean we can continue to be a reliable and dependable partner with our customers, proactively assessing their needs,” Shillam says. For now, though, AllightSykes will continue to do what it does best – lighting the nights of Australia’s mining industry and powering through the dusty days ahead. AM

RISK MANAGEMENT

INSURING THE BEST COVER FOR THE INDUSTRY FROM STARTING WITH JUST A LAPTOP AT HOME IN 2008 TO SERVICING HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS AUSTRALIA-WIDE TODAY, LEE O’CONNOR USED HIS 20-PLUS YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN THE INSURANCE SECTOR TO ESTABLISH PROACTIVE INSURANCE MANAGEMENT.

he general insurance brokerage takes great pride in providing business organisations with a combination of professional advice, risk education and access to competitive premiums. O’Connor says this approach is key to the company’s 13-year success. “Although still important to clients, we’re not focused purely on price. For us, it’s more about how we can best assist and provide solutions to meet our client’s needs,” O’Connor says. “We make it our priority to educate our clients, so that they can better appreciate what they’re investing their financial resources in to. We want clients to understand that insurance is not only there to protect their business, but more importantly how it protects them.” O’Connor ensures his clients have the best possible cover, no matter what industry they are in. Using both local insurance markets and Lloyds of London cover holders, Proactive Insurance Management has access to mainstream insurers and specialist underwriting agencies, so it can always find the best match for its client’s risk profile. The company also offers tailored programs that can specifically cover the needs of a client’s business. “So if your risk needs are unique or a little out of the box, we can tailor a cover specifically to meet your circumstances,” O’Connor says. “This then meets the client’s risk exposures,

whilst ensuring that they are fully briefed on what cover is available, how it works and the exact costs to them,” he says. During his time as an insurance broker, O’Connor has gained knowledge and experience through a variety of risk transactions that have allowed the company to grow its service offering. One such area that Proactive Insurance Management specialises in, is undertaking detailed reviews of the current insurance programs of businesses. O’Connor says clients are provided with a detailed written, comprehensive analysis of their current position and recommended actions they can take to reduce the risk, complexity and cost of their insurance program. “My vision is to share this knowledge and experience with our clients. The aim is to enable customers to make informed decisions in relation to managing risk exposures within their businesses, and to secure the right insurance protection that best suits their specific needs and circumstances,” he says. O’Connor believes it is through this process of advice and education, that his team has been able to grow its business and increase referrals through existing customers. “A lot of our clients are contractors in the mining and resources, oil and gas, and government sectors,” he says. “These range from the single tradesman with a utility and tools, through to complex businesses paying

THE COMPANY OFFERS TAILORED PROGRAMS THAT CAN COVER THE NEEDS OF A CLIENT’S BUSINESS.

AUSTRALIANMINING

PROACTIVE INSURANCE MANAGEMENT PROVIDES INSURANCE FOR ON-SITE FABRICATION, MAINTENANCE AND SHUTDOWN SERVICES.

premiums upwards of $1 million for their insurance program. However, although our customer base is quite diverse, we make a point of advising our smaller business clients in the exact same way that we do with our top tier customers. “That way they too can benefit from our knowledge and advice, which in turn can help them grow their businesses.” Unlike most companies which felt the impacts and challenges of COVID-19, O’Connor says the pandemic allowed his business to grow, as most of its clients were considered essential services. “The company was very fortunate because most of our clients were from industry sectors that actually benefited from the pandemic, as these sectors were powering the national economy,” O’Connor says. “A lot of them were investing in new assets, equipment and human resources, which in turn contributed to our growth. These positive impacts from COVID-19 have actually been a great stepping stone for us to start looking at expanding our business footprint at a highly accelerated rate.” Following the boost in business, O’Connor says the company now has the confidence to continue expanding the company interstate from Western Australia. With many clients now based in Queensland and the Northern Territory, Proactive Insurance

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Management has its sights set on growing its foothold interstate, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria. This includes the acquisition of broking businesses on the east coast. “As we continue to see more clients and enquiries in those states, it makes sense to seek out further opportunities there” O’Connor says. “I work with a business coach and mentor once a month on such activity, so we’ve established timeframes and criteria in order to make those acquisitions and growth happen.” O’Connor is also continuing to expand the size of his company’s closeknit team, albeit very selectively. He says it’s been the quality of his staff and the company’s operational flexibility that have enabled it to adapt to a growing clientele. “Often when companies grow too quickly, they become too stretched and then make poor decisions on the number and quality of staff they employ to meet the demands of that growth,” he says. “However, as we have always focused on securing people that are technically strong and the right cultural fit for our business, it has made the growth transition easier to deal with. “But because we’re also a small close-knit team, we’re more adaptable to change. We continually update and streamline our procedures and processes, so that we don’t lose control of workload or our focus on our clients.” AM

ON LY 56 HR S

x4 SO LD

WATER MANAGEMENT

A WATER MANAGEMENT PARTNER FROM START TO FINISH POSITIONED AS THE NUMBER ONE WATER MANAGEMENT PARTNER NOT ONLY WITHIN AUSTRALIA BUT ACROSS THE GLOBE, XYLEM PROVIDES AN END-TO-END SERVICE FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY.

XYLEM IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING DEPENDABLE WATER SOLUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE RANGE OF DIVERSE MINING CONDITIONS.

ylem separates its offer from a supplier of products to becoming a reputable water management partner with a strong portfolio of products and services used within the mining and industrial market, sharing its passion of water to support and partner with customers across the industry.

Taking the full suite of water management challenges into account, Xylem national business development manager for mining, metals and industrial Ben Attwater says the company understands the intricate details that go into developing a mine water management plan. “As a result, we have been able to develop our business model to make sure that when a customer comes to us with a challenge or problem we engage all key stakeholders to develop and deliver a solution,” Attwater tells Australian Mining. “It allows us to provide business support to solve our customer’s water management challenges rather than limiting our services to isolated areas within the mine’s water management cycle.” Xylem’s commitment to research

and development (R&D) enables the future of mine dewatering technology to grow to provide improved and innovative products from the original equipment manufacturer direct to market. As a result, the company has provided flexible and adaptable water management improvements, regardless of the mining environment across Australia. Xylem’s Northern business development manager for Northern Territory and North Queensland, Gavin Starr, says the company has continued to evolve by implementing R&D programs through its factories and combining technologies within its portfolio of 30 brands that are recognised within the mining market. One example of combining technology is the application of Xylem’s hard iron solids handling self cleaning Flygt N Impeller to its Godwin self-priming drill rig pump. Starr says this has been a great innovation that the company’s clients have implemented to improve safety and reliability for processes and mine development for face dewatering. “In a competitive and evolving industry, Xylem continues to place significant importance on R&D AUSTRALIANMINING

to support our market globally,” Starr says. “Many of the products and services we release are from responses we have collected through voice of customer. This in turn challenges our business and product managers to develop improved products and solutions to meet market conditions and demands within the Australian mining industry. Starr says that product developments and innovation assist customers to deliver the continuous improvements required for improved safety and operational outcomes including cost benefits. “Executing water management audits for existing or new customers accelerates continuous improvement outcomes. That has been a big step forward for us, highlighting the significance and value of Xylem as the industries trusted partner for water management challenges,” he says. Xylem finds that maximising productivity, while ensuring site and environmental safety can be a challenge for underground mining operators. Starr says the company takes two key steps to address this challenge to help operators that are under pressure to manage resource use and their environmental impact. “We look at every step, from underground mine dewatering design to water reclamation and reuse, as part of a process,” Starr says. “Integrating those steps empowers you to increase productivity, reduce costs and turn water management from an expense into a strategic advantage. “Supporting underground mining isn’t about offering a few key pieces of equipment and leaving you to figure out how to integrate them into your operation. “Xylem is committed to providing dependable water solutions throughout the entire range of diverse mining conditions.” Starr says the first step for an underground water management plan is pulling water from the face of an exploration drive or mining front that exposes unknown water tables and challenges are presented with these conditions. Unknown water ingress is

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always a risk. Xylem assists with developing an underground water management plan for mine sites anywhere between 50 metres below ground to two kilometres or more. Starr says once Xylem understands the depth and design of a mine site, it can assist with the water management plan by advising where to position sumps and selecting suitable equipment to execute the dewatering plan. Equipment supply, including rental solutions, range from submersible dewatering pumps, submersible slurry pumps, explosion proof pumps, helical rotor pumping stations, air operated diaphragm pumps, flow control, flow measurement, level control, system automation and data acquisition. “It is a perfect scenario for greenfield sites where the mine is about to go underground and the client already knows where they have to mine and extract from the ore body,” Starr continues. “Xylem will partner and assist with the design to put in a series of solutions to safely and efficiently dewater the mine.” Starr says the risk of having unreliable water management systems resulting in an influx of water is not only a danger to personnel, but can also have financial consequences. “If there are employees underground, it is a priority to keep that water out so they are safe,” Starr says. “Rather than just reacting to an issue, if we are seen as a partner, we are able understand the challenges and implement solutions outside the normal offering. We provide customised bespoke solutions depending on the client’s needs.” Xylem is positioned in key mining centres such as Mount Isa, Townsville, Newcastle, Adelaide, Darwin, Orange, Sydney Perth and Kalgoorlie to service Australia’s mining regions. “It is about coverage and speed to market. Xylem takes a holistic approach to turning these systemic challenges into strategic advantages, while maintaining profitability and optimising underground mining,” Attwater concludes. AM

SUSTAINABILITY

A GOLD STANDARD FOR SUSTAINABLE GOLD MINING THE GOLD INDUSTRY GROUP HAS SHOWCASED THE TECHNOLOGICAL VIGOUR OF AUSTRALIA’S GOLD SECTOR AT THE RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE THROUGH RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT SOME OF AUSTRALIA’S MAJOR GOLD MINES. THE MINING INDUSTRY IS GRADUALLY MOVING AWAY FROM DIESEL POWER AND IS INSTEAD ADOPTING CLEAN ENERGY.

he 2021 Resources Technology Showcase has highlighted the latest innovations in the resources industry to the next generation. Resources Technology Showcase presenting partner, the Gold Industry Group, showcased its members’ continued commitment towards advancing innovative technologies in the gold sector to more than 10,000 students, teachers and community members at the event in Perth during June. Mining companies are facing pressure to meet more stringent environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements, particularly with respect to decarbonisation, as the world heads towards net-zero emissions targets. The industry is gradually moving away from diesel power and adopting cleaner energy sources instead. The gold sector is no exception, with Gold Industry Group member Gold Fields positioned as a world-leading gold miner in advancing renewable power solutions in Australia. Gold Fields’ Agnew gold mine in the Northern Goldfields region of Western Australia adopted a renewable energy microgrid in September 2019. Agnew is the first mine in Australia to use large-scale wind generation at a mine, with the 230,000-ounceper-annum gold mine now operating the largest hybrid renewable energy

microgrid in the country. “This renewable energy project is leading the mining sector’s transition to clean energy through the innovative integration of five energy technologies to balance sustainability, economics, reliability and flexibility,” Gold Fields Energy Manager James Koerting tells Australian Mining. The $113 million renewable energy project meets more than 50 per cent of Agnew’s power demand through renewable energy, and cuts carbon emissions by 40,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. Koerting, along with Gold Fields superintendent: environment and community Ashleigh Shelton, inspired young students at the Resources Technology Showcase to deliver renewable energy in the gold sector on behalf of the Gold Industry Group. “The need to adopt new technologies has become more and more important, as mining companies manage the competing demands of mineral resources becoming harder to find and extract, with the need to reduce their environmental footprint and create positive impacts on our communities,” Koerting says. “At Gold Fields, we have been working to modernise our mining practices, including by making multimillion dollar investments in groundbreaking renewable energy projects and trialling the latest battery-electric mining vehicles, so we can one day operate our mines almost entirely from AUSTRALIANMINING

renewable energy sources.” Australia’s gold industry is emerging as a key player in the switch to renewables, with adoption rates expected to grow in the coming years. Despite many gold mines operating in remote areas, where renewable infrastructure may be costly, Koerting expects renewable options to become more affordable in the years to come. “Over the next few years, we expect that enthusiasm will result in more mines adopting renewables as new technologies such as moveable solar farms and energy storage start to come online at an affordable price,” Koerting says. The Resources Technology Showcase has shown that the thinking around what’s possible at a mine is changing. Shelton says the Agnew hybrid renewable project provides a blueprint of how the gold industry can progress toward a cleaner future. “Through sharing our learnings from the Agnew hybrid renewable project, both the easy wins as well as the hurdles, we hope to provide a blueprint for other companies to consider their power options and possibly take the first steps on their journey towards transitioning into renewable energy,” Shelton says. This commitment continues to the industry’s next generation, with the Resources Technology Showcase hosting young people, allowing them to see the technological vigour of

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the mining sector. “Most importantly, and in line with the Gold Industry Group’s education initiatives, we hope to inspire kids who are still in school to consider opportunities in the gold industry, mining, technology and renewables,” Shelton says. “The children coming along to the Resources Technology Showcase will soon be the adults pushing our society’s progress, research and implementation into renewables and if we can encourage just one child to move into the gold industry looking at clean energy technologies, the event will have been a success.” Gold Fields is investigating options to make renewable energy storage more cost effective, to make it a more viable alternative for mine sites regardless of their scope and size. “The ability to store excess energy long term would help to increase the amount of renewable energy we can use, however it is not currently cost effective,” Koerting says. “Investigations into long-term storage technology are underway at Gold Fields, with the intention to capture excess energy generated by wind during the night for use during the day when the mine load usually increases. “There will come a point where renewable energy is cheaper than the marginal cost of thermal generation, particularly if running diesel-powered infrastructure is the alternative.” AM

2021

AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS

N E P O W O N S N O I T A R E I G N M I N I E R MIN P M ’S HE O A I N USTRALS FOR TLS STRY A

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

PEOPLE AND SUSTAINABILITY TOP AUSTMINE 2021 AGENDA THE AUSTMINE 2021 CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER MORE THAN 1250 MINING AND METS (MINING EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES) SECTOR SENIOR LEADERS TO SET THE TONE FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR INDUSTRY, PROVIDING A PLATFORM TO EXPLORE PERTINENT ISSUES SUCH AS SUSTAINABILITY, DIGITISATION, FUTURE SKILLS AND MORE.

o help the industry understand what topics are at the top of the agenda for mining executives, Austmine has put together its top five themes emerging from three days of discussion.

1. Valuing your people

Executives outlined their vision of the future mining business, focusing on attracting the best talent and leveraging diverse skillsets across organisations. Leveraging the building blocks established across the past 18 months, miners are looking at expanding remote working procedures and changing the nature of jobs to access a larger talent pool. BHP asset president Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) Brandon Craig has described how work is being redesigned to make it accessible for everyone. “Whether it’s autonomous haulage, decarbonisation, robotics, remote work, or advanced analytics, we want to connect the best and most creative minds to the opportunities and challenges we face as an industry and change the very nature of the way we work,” Craig says during his keynote address. Alcoa global technology manager Johann Reps sees technology as the backbone to enabling new ways of working, presenting their Connected Worker Journey, which leveraged enabling technologies and mobile devices to put information and tools in the hands of multidisciplinary field teams.

2. D ecarbonising operations and supply chains

Sustainability is at the top of the agenda, with mining businesses outlining emissions reductions commitments and mapping out pathways for their achievement. In striving to deliver emissions targets, speakers have emphasised the need to work collectively and harness the expertise of supply chains to successfully decarbonise. BHP, Rio Tinto and Vale demonstrated this in action during their

EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY WAS A KEY FOCUS OF THE AUSTMINE 2021 EXHIBITION.

Charge On Innovation panel discussion. They have come together with Austmine to launch a global challenge to electrify haul truck fleets for large mining operations, representing an opportunity to reduce operational emissions by up to 50 per cent. Accenture sustainability managing director Shaun Chau implores the industry to fast-track collaboration efforts to decarbonise mining. “For the supply chain to fully realise the value of this opportunity, we need further participation from government, universities and others, to come together and create pockets of expertise and capabilities … and it needs to start now,” he says.

3. Collaboration is the key

Like the collective approach discussed to decarbonise operations, joint approaches to harnessing capabilities across the value chain were explored to tackle a range of industry challenges. METS Ignited chief executive officer Adrian Beer highlighted the phenomenal opportunity these approaches are creating, observing that the industry is starting to see vendors working together to aggregate capabilities to provide wholistic solutions, greater value and better technology. Interoperability was identified as a AUSTRALIANMINING

critical issue that can be solved utilising this collective approach, with Roy Hill chief executive officer Barry Fitzgerald referencing the progress being made through the iron ore miner’s involvement in collaborative projects to exchange information across interfaces, ultimately creating value for the whole industry. Other programs designed to capture collaborative opportunities include BHP’s Fatality Elimination Program, the Electric Mine Consortium and OZ Minerals’ Think and Act Differently (TAD) incubator.

4. Culture is king

Going hand-in-hand with changing the nature of work, mining leaders point to culture as fundamental to industry and organisation transformation. OZ Minerals managing director and chief executive officer Andrew Cole explored the culture the company is fostering to create an environment that develops ideators and drives innovation forward. He points to the mindset shift that is needed to identify and create true value for a range of stakeholders, not just shareholders, and to view culture as intellectual property, rather than technology or products. Culture was also front and centre in the final panel discussion of the conference on Working Together to

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Shift Mining’s Paradigm for the Next Generation. Future leaders discussed what can encourage a new wave of talent into the industry, pointing to inclusiveness and diversity, building experience across departments and workforce flexibility as important.

5. Digitisation driving ESG goals

Often perceived as separate issues, the convergence between digitisation and ESG (environment, social and governance) was explored. Shell and IBM focused on digitisation and sustainability being intrinsically linked in their presentation, presenting the use of platforms to monitor and optimise energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions for operators, along with enabling environmental compliance assessments of the supply chain. Anglo American chief data officer Arun Narayanan discussed digitisation and safety, talking through how their Voxel data analytics platform helped keep employees safe and operations continuous during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, deploying over 35,000 watches with sensors for contact tracing across operations. AM Austmine would like to thank sponsors, partners, delegates and guests for contributing to the Austmine 2021 Conference & Exhibition.

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EVENT SPOTLIGHT

AUSIMM POWERS UP LITHIUM, BATTERY AND ENERGY METALS CONFERENCE AS THE WORLD MOVES TOWARDS CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AUSIMM’S LITHIUM, BATTERY AND ENERGY METALS CONFERENCE IN SEPTEMBER WILL SHOWCASE HOW THE MINING INDUSTRY IS RESPONDING TO GROWING BATTERY DEMAND AND DRIVING THE ENERGY TRANSITION.

or the fourth consecutive year, AusIMM and Murdoch University will host the Lithium, Battery and Energy Metals Conference from September 1-2, 2021 at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. The conference will also be held online via AusIMM’s virtual platform. More than 250 industry professionals are expected to attend the event, which will focus on the future of the lithium and the battery metals industries, trends in lithium extraction techniques and the impact of COVID-19 on commodities. As the trusted voice for professionals working across the minerals value chain, AusIMM understands that lithium, battery and energy metals are essential commodities for modern life. Innovation, best practice and the highest standards of technical, social and environmental performance are critical enablers for development in this rapidly-evolving sector. For AusIMM chief executive officer Stephen Durkin, the conference is a vital forum for uniting professionals in leading the way for the industry and broader community. “AusIMM is proud to be continuing our legacy of leadership in relation to

lithium, battery and energy metals. These commodities are fundamental not only to the future of the resources sector, but to the enduring social and economic benefits we deliver worldwide,” Durkin says. “Sustainable, responsible development is vital here. By connecting leaders across whole value chain, the Lithium, Battery and Energy Metals Conference helps advance best practice and support a strong, sustainable sector.” This year’s line-up of guest speakers includes representatives from lithium and battery metals mining companies, including Vulcan Energy Resources founder and chief executive officer Francis Wedin, Pilbara Minerals managing director and chief executive officer Ken Brinsden and IGO chief operating officer Matt Dusci. Vulcan Energy is planning to produce lithium hydroxide from its geothermal-lithium project in the Upper Rhine Valley in Germany. The company plans to enter production in 2024 as the world’s first zero carbon lithium company. Chief executive Wedin says the company has cracked the code for its trademarked Zero Carbon Lithium project. “Vulcan was formed to be a zero

AUSIMM’S LITHIUM, BATTERY AND ENERGY METALS CONFERENCE TAKES PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 1-2.

AUSTRALIANMINING

carbon lithium company,” he tells Australian Mining. “We started from the ground up to design a process to produce lithium with net zero greenhouse gas emissions and without fossil fuels.” Wedin will discuss sustainable lithium processing techniques at the Lithium, Battery and Energy Metals Conference, including its own lithium extraction process, which uses the renewable heat from geothermal brine to power the extraction of lithium, with excess renewable energy sold to the grid. “What we’re doing is we’re developing a combined geothermal renewable energy and lithium brine project,” Wedin says. “So, we have a geothermal brine which is hosted in the subsurface of the Upper Rhine Valley, which produces geothermal energy from this brine. “The key to this is using geothermal heat and renewable power to drive the lithium extraction process.” As lithium production ramps up, Wedin says countries like Australia should aim to crack down on carbon emissions from battery raw materials in response to demands from electric vehicle makers to produce zero carbon vehicles. “Australia needs to work hard to eliminate net carbon emissions in battery raw materials production, which is becoming more important for the consumer,” he says. “Original equipment manufacturers in Europe and across the world have increasingly pledged to produce net zero carbon electric vehicles, prioritising battery raw material sources that have low or zero carbon footprint.” According to Wedin, AusIMM’s Lithium, Battery and Energy Metals Conference bridges the gap between academia and mining companies, allowing them to network to help develop new initiatives and technologies. “AusIMM is a very respected institution. It’s a good forum for these two areas to meet,” he says.

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VULCAN ENERGY RESOURCES FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FRANCIS WEDIN.

“Australia is very blessed with its resources. We need to stay ahead of the curve for the future in terms of technologies for extraction, processing and recycling and to maintain a technological edge to ensure Australia remains competitive. “We’re interested in new battery technologies as well and we’ll be listening with a keen ear.” Looking at the future of lithium, Wedin says demand is likely to outstrip supply over the next five to 10 years. And while Vulcan Energy’s current focus is on Europe, the ASX-listed company believes that Australia is well placed to deliver low-cost production of lithium and battery metals. “Australia is positioned to become a low-cost producer for decades,” Wedin says. “It has a very well set up regulatory system and workforce for lithium and other battery materials. It is very well positioned to ride the wave of lithium and battery metals, provided it can keep up with global demands for net zero carbon production.” AM For more information on the conference, visit the Lithium, Battery and Energy Metals Conference website https://www.ausimm.com/conferencesand-events/lithium.

TRIC

THE MINING INDUSTRY HAS MOVED TO A NEW PHASE FOLLOWING THE MINING BOOM, ONE WHERE PRODUCTIVITY, INNOVATION AND SAFETY HAVE EMERGED AS ITS KEY PRIORITIES AUSTMINE 2021 MINING SERVICES VOLUME 113/06 | JULY 2021

LITHIUM SPOTLIGHT

DIGITAL MINING EMBRACING MODERN TECHNOLOGIES

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Australian Mining’s special features provide organisations with a forum to showcase the role each mining sector plays in helping the industry achieve its modern-day targets.

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EVENT SPOTLIGHT

THE ULTIMATE INGREDIENT TO SUCCESS IN THIS MONTH’S COLUMN AS WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AMBASSADOR, RACHEL ASHFIELD REFLECTS ON HER SECRET TO SUCCESS – HER TEAM.

truly believe that your success is only as good as the team structure, rapport and networks that you build, all of which lend themselves to the overall success of the company. Hearing that I work for a highly technical automation company that sells complex automation and cloud solutions is not what people expect when they meet me at an event and ask what I do. Especially when I begin by explaining that I am in marketing. Eyebrows are quickly raised, and I know everyone wonders how I ended up here. If I think back on my career, I too sometimes ask, “How did I get here?” From the outside, it might seem like a slow rise to such a senior position, but the journey to head of the marketing division at ifm has been so quick in my eyes. My career has seen me travel pathways filled with triumph, hurdles, and yes, at times, disappointment. But

throughout it all, I’ve had a supportive team around me. While not everyone may have a ‘dream team’ when starting out, I believe you get out of teamwork what you put in. Whether a man or woman in any role within any industry, if you bring a level of energy and conviction of belief to your career journey, the hard work will pay off and successful results will follow. Even better is when you have worked with a team for a period and have developed great synergies – this builds a solid foundation for success. Together you build excitement, engagement and a dynamic that people want to be a part of. Departments can see the rewards of their participation with you when they see the outcomes of the material you produce because of their contribution towards the end goal. As long as you are passionate, believe in yourself and strive for your best possible outcomes, you

will be assured of career success and job satisfaction. It may not be easy and will possibly be a bumpy road along the way, but remember to celebrate the small victories. It is easy to overlook all these important milestones when you are busy working hard for the career highs. Luckily, Women in Industry is here to help you acknowledge these small wins. We are the supportive team you can count on to be cheering for your success, the network of likeminded women here to help build the excitement and engagement that will see you ooze confidence and work towards those big overarching career highlights. Ultimately, the foundation of success of women in any industry is the innate desire to achieve results and strive for success in your chosen field. Being able to participate, network and apply your own understanding of people and what drives them will build a strong supportive team to help both

THE WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS WILL BE HELD ON AUGUST 19 IN MELBOURNE.

AUSTRALIANMINING

JULY 2021

IFM MARKETING MANAGER RACHAEL ASHFIELD.

individuals and businesses succeed. One day, your team might even nominate you for a Women in Industry award. Until then – nominate yourself. We’ll be here, ready to support you. AM

PRODUCTS

AN INDUSTRIAL TERMINATION AND PATCHING SOLUTION

RECOVER GOLD FROM YOUR CARBON FINES ON SITE

Control Logic is offering the Hirschmann’s Modular Industrial Patch Panel (MIPP), a versatile termination panel for both fibre and copper cables connected from the operating environment to active equipment. Easily installed on any standard 35mm DIN Rail, MIPP features high port-density to meet expanding network connectivity needs within limited space. The durable MIPP panels are constructed of lightweight, high strength aluminium, securely protecting copper and optical fibre connections under the harshest industrial conditions. The housing can withstand temperatures from -20 degrees Celsius to 70 degrees Celsius and is resistant to shocks and vibrations. The patch panel’s industrial quality guarantees a secure termination point for reliable industrial ethernet connectivity.

Kappes, Cassiday & Associates now has three carbon converters successfully operating at mines around the world. These units take carbon fines and dirty, wet waste at gold leach plants, thoroughly ash it and remove all mercury. Recovery of gold and silver into bullion is typically 99 per cent. For waste carbon loaded to 200 grams of gold per tonne, operating cost is $US6 ($7.20) per gram, or 11 per cent of the value of the recovered gold. Often waste carbons are loaded much higher and the cost per gram drops accordingly. Mines with the carbon converter can recover their gold quickly without the chain-of-custody problems of shipping carbon to outside processors. Shipping mercury-contaminated wastes off site incurs large risks of environmental contamination, and the carbon converter eliminates this risk.

• controllogic.com.au

• kcareno.com

POSITION PARTNERS FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

LIEBHERR ROLLS OUT 305-TONNE MINING TRUCK

Position Partners’ iVolve fleet management system (FMS) has been designed to assist mine managers in optimising production, proactively maintaining the mine fleet and increasing operational efficiencies. With a focus on the quality of data rather than quantity, Position Partners works collaboratively with its customers to understand the most meaningful reporting metrics and provide managers the information they need in an easy-to-read format. Unlike overseas suppliers who don’t offer local services, Position Partners’ boots on the ground and remote support capabilities throughout Australia ensure it’s available to help. iVolve Mine4D solutions have been designed to help mine managers meet or exceed their production targets by delivering real-time insights for more informed decisions. Optimise truck loading and circuit operation, fix over or under trucking, quickly adjust paths or timing and improve labour efficiencies through early intervention and better machine utilisation.

Liebherr has released the T 274 haul truck with a class-leading 305-tonne payload capacity. The T 274 is designed to fit between the Liebherr T 284 and T 264 haul trucks, offering fast cycle times, high production and reduced fuel costs. The T 274 features the largest payload capacity in its class and is powered by a 2720-kilowatt (3650-horsepower) engine and Liebherr Litronic Plus AC Drive system, allowing the machine to move material in shorter times. It also features 4500-kilowatt (6035-horsepower) dynamic braking power, which allows the truck to operate efficiently on downhill hauls.

• Liebherr.com

• positionpartners.com.au

AUSTRALIANMINING

JULY 2021

PRODUCTS

CAT SETS THE STAGE FOR BATTERY-ELECTRIC UNDERGROUND LOADER

A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR MECHANICAL POWER TRANSMISSION

Cat has signalled it will unveil the Cat R1700 XE LHD battery electric vehicle later this year, after first announcing the concept in 2019. The R1700 XE has a 15-tonne payload and a 24,190-kilogram lift and tilt breakout. Its battery-electric design enables zero engine heat or exhaust emissions with a top speed of 18 kilometres per hour. Cat has also designed the R1700 XE loader to be liquid cooled to allow the batteries to stay cooler when the machine is in operation, boosting uptime availability.

RINGSPANN has become a premium manufacturer of freewheels, brakes, shaft-hub-connections, overload clutches and more, since it was founded almost 80 years ago. With a highly trained team in Melbourne ready to service all customer needs, RINGSPANN’s product range is extensive and strongly supported. The range of torque afforded by RINGSPANN freewheels extends from 110 nanometres (Nm) to 1.23 million Nm, setting a global standard on numerous international machines and plant construction. RINGSPANN pneumatic, hydraulic and electromagnetic brake calipers handle braking torques from 40,000Nm for general mechanical engineering applications, up to 600,000Nm for more demanding mining applications. When an operation can’t run the risk of unexpected downtime, RINGSPANN brakes and clutches can be relied upon to last.

• cat.com

• ringspann.com

DEWATERING PUMPS FOR SEMI-LIQUID SLURRY Atlas Copco Power and Flow has added the WEDA L to its range of submersible dewatering pumps for drainage, sludge and slurry applications. WEDA pumps are electric submersible dewatering pumps designed for use across multiple industries. The L range is the most robust option in the company’s sustainable dewatering pump portfolio. It is designed with the largest apertures in the WEDA range and can handle semi-liquid slurry mixtures, including fine particles of coal, cement and water. WEDA L is capable of handling solids up to 60mm and features a high efficiency high chrome agitator to lift settled solids. The WEDA L uses bottom side discharge with the ability to handle water of specific gravity up to 1700 kilograms per cubic metre.

• atlascopco.com

EPIROC DRILLING SYSTEM SAVES TIME, MONEY AND WORRY With drill navigation accuracy to within +/– 50mm, Epiroc’s satelliteguided hole navigation system (HNS) ensures the highest quality of drilled holes. At the same time, it makes your operation a great deal safer and easier. There is no need to spend time manually marking holes. By being guided to the correct hole position, including angles and collaring position, the task of delivering high-quality results will be simplified. The precision of HNS not only optimises drilling and blasting results, but also improves fragmentation and reduces the amount of explosives you’ll need. And last but not least, it will lower your overall production costs.

• epiroc.com

AUSTRALIANMINING

JULY 2021

EVENTS

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS EVENT SUBMISSIONS CAN BE EMAILED TO EDITOR@AUSTRALIANMINING.COM.AU Diggers & Dealers Kalgoorlie | August 2-4 Diggers & Dealers is celebrating its 30th year as a leading Australian mining investment event in 2021. Diggers & Dealers combines corporate presentations by listed mining and exploration companies, alongside a large exhibition area housing more than 160 exhibitors from the sector. Delegates include miners, explorers, brokers, bankers, investors, financiers and mining service industries from around the world. The event provides a unique opportunity for industry professionals to meet and network, visit regional mine sites, engage with media, raise finance, invest in projects and generally engage with the resources sector at an executive level in a mining community setting, Kalgoorlie. An entertainment program ensures that delegates experience the best of the style and hospitality of Kalgoorlie, the unofficial gold mining capital of Australia. • diggersndealers.com.au International Uranium Digital Conference 2021 Online | August 3-4, 10-11 After a highly successful digital conference in 2020, experiencing the largest attendance in more than five years, AusIMM is once again hosting the 2021 conference online, making it available to all professionals across the globe. Uranium 2021 will offer

opportunities to collaborate with the world’s most knowledgeable uranium and nuclear experts on the current state and the turnaround of the industry. Presentations will explore the growing global demand for more new uranium production and the opportunities to re-commence standby projects and explore new projects. • ausimm.com/uranium Women in Industry Awards Melbourne | August 19 Women in typically male-dominated industrial sectors will be honoured once more at the Women in Industry Awards. The event aims to acknowledge the exceptional women who have achieved success through their invaluable leadership, innovation and commitment to their sectors. These may be women you work with, women whose achievements are inspiring you from afar, or women who are providing you with invaluable guidance and support. Potential sectors for recognition have included quarrying, mining, road transport, manufacturing, engineering, logistics, bulk handling, waste management, rail and infrastructure. Past winner and 2021 ambassador Rachel Ashfield said the awards “give you an opportunity to highlight key aspects and career defining moments of your many years of success and dedication.” • womeninindustry.com.au

AUSTRALIANMINING

Lithium battery and Energy Metals Conference 2021 Perth | September 1-2 Following successful Lithium and Battery Metals Conferences in 2018, 2019 and 2020, AusIMM will host another future-focused event over two days to showcase the latest industry efforts to expand lithium’s market presence. Perth’s Murdoch University will see more than 200 industry professionals come together to discuss the potential for lithium and associated metals to advance the global electrification process, and the impact of COVID-19 on global commodities. Keynote speakers include Ken Brinsden from Pilbara Minerals, which continues to run the Pilgangoora operation to its peak; Matt Dusci from IGO, which recently joined the Electric Mine Consortium; and chief executive at the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia, Nicole Roocke. • a usimm.com/conferences-and-events/ lithium

Australian Mining Prospect Awards Brisbane | October 14 The Prospect Awards will return as an in-person event this year after pandemic restrictions hampered the night in 2020. The Prospect Awards are the most esteemed and prestigious awards in the Australian mining and minerals processing industry. Since 2004, the Australian Mining Prospect Awards have been the only national awards program

JULY 2021

to stop, take a look at what the mining industry is doing, and reward those who are excelling and going above and beyond, recognising and rewarding innovation. Nominations for the awards are free and must be submitted by August 20 to recognise companies and sites from across Australia. Join Australian Mining for an evening of celebration as we acknowledge the collective success of the industry. • prospectawards.com.au International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) Melbourne | October 25-27 After going virtual last year, IMARC is back in 2021 with a hybrid event – welcoming thousands of guests from Australia and overseas, in-person at the Melbourne Showgrounds and online. More than 130 countries will participate at this leading Australian mining event with more than 200 exhibitors and 70 hours of networking opportunities to take advantage of. The event includes a three-day conference that will dive into the topics of exploration, investment, production optimisation technology and global opportunities. Additionally, the expo floor will cover 13,000 square metres to accommodate the latest machinery and equipment available on the market this year. Tickets range from free passes through to premium delegate passes. • imarcglobal.com

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WHY CHOOSE US? Innovators in the Australian mining industry Leading edge products Committed to providing exceptional customer support

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MINING SOLUTIONS TETHER-FREE DATA COLLECTION Designed with safety in mind, the rQPOD Remote Modular Survey Boat is a lightweight, affordable solution for conducting discharge measurements and/or hydrographic surveys. When combined with an ADCP such as the SONTEK M9, the rQPOD transforms it into a full remote survey vessel ready to tackle even the most hostile, hard to access sites. The rQPOD is ready to go wherever you need it.

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