INVESTING IN SAFE MINES Most miners aim to invest in new safety-focused technologies (such as fatigue management and collision avoidance/proximity detection systems)
Investment plans for the African mining industry are primarily geared towards improving safety and increasing productivity, states UK-based information solutions and technologies company Timetric.
In a recent Timetric survey – conducted between July and September 2014 – of more than 100 key decision-makers at operating mines in Africa, respondents were asked about their intentions to invest in 12 different areas of technology at their mine site in the next two years, including several mine management and vehicle-related technologies.
The survey found that 83% of miners plan to invest in new safety-focused technologies such as fatigue management and collision avoidance/proximity detection systems.
The company notes that two other technologies with high potential for further investment are equipment health monitoring and diagnostics, as well as productivity monitoring systems and tools.
Timetric senior mining analyst Nez Guevara tells Mining Weekly that 80% of respondents plan to invest in these two areas in the next two years.
“This indicates that companies are keen to ensure they optimally improve their investments in plants and equipment, as well as improve productivity,” he notes, adding that this is driven by the challenging economic climate the mining sector faces globally.
Automation Anomaly
Guevara highlights, however, that other technologies were significantly less prevalent, with limited investment expected in the near term.
He says mining automation, for example, has one of the lowest rates of implementation in African mining operations.
Guevara explains that the initial outlay for a mine to become autonomous requires large amounts of capital to buy equipment, upgrade mine infrastructure and retrain mine employees, “which is too costly for most African mine operators”.
He adds that many pieces of existing equipment would also need to be replaced for autonomous machines to be effectively used in African mines.
Guevara avers that, compared with the Australian mining industry, there is a flexible and relatively low-cost workforce in Africa, with mine operators earning significantly less than their Australian counterparts.
“By looking at autonomous fleets in the Australian mining sector, which is a leading mining area that has embraced autonomous vehicles, it is no surprise that Australian com- panies, such as diversified mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, lead the way in using autonomous vehicles on mine sites.”
Further, Guevara says the low cost of labour in Africa and the focus on manned fleets will keep the rate of growth in this region rather slow, compared with other mining regions, such as Australia and Canada.
“To keep production competitive with the rise of automation, mining companies will look to improve their fleet’s productivity,” he explains.
Guevara states that not only are autonomous vehicles not a viable option for many operations in Africa but those companies that do not employ these technologies will also need to tackle the shortfalls of a manned fleet to remain competitive with counterparts that use autonomous vehicles and, above all, ensure workers’ safety.
Moreover, he points out that, as the mining industry is known for long working hours and extreme conditions, it is important that these mining companies invest directly in upgrading machine and equipment operators and improving their working methods.
“Engaging in safety issues and improving working conditions at operator level will see rewards and improve production levels at mines in Africa,” Guevara concludes.