Throughput increase: Managing risk and challenges towards the end of mine life

Challenge:

A large hard rock opencast operation was nearing its end of life, yet needed to maintain volumes while reducing costs despite very challenging pit constraints

Our Approach:

• MineLens was used as a tool to give mine management an overall sense of areas to improve
• Highlighted improvement areas and practical steps
• Expert visit critical to ensure technical complexities of pit was taken into account

Results:

• Generated new ideas and “out of the box” thinking about mine performance and practices
• MineLens report quoted for reference at site in future
• Mine is currently facing management change - MineLens report is used by new mine manager as a good overview and action plan
• Recommendations implemented with significant positive impact
• Potential identified: increase annual ROM ore production by 11% and reduce maintenance cost by 51.4 Mn A$ and operating cost by 30.6 Mn A$