Modern Mining July 2018

MINING News

To fully automate the Syama Under­ ground mine, Sandvik is delivering the AutoMine® and OptiMine® systems for planning, analysis, process optimisa- tion and automation, and a full fleet of Sandvik TH663 trucks and LH621, LH517 and LH514E loaders. TheTH663 truck in autonomous mode will be used for ore and waste haulage. To facilitate the Sandvik agreement and assist with the implementation of associ- ated automation at Syama, Resolute has engaged Dr Joe Cronin, a globally rec- ognised robotics expert in the mining industry. With over 25 years of experience, Dr Cronin has demonstrated specialist expertise in complex technical project management and robotics in unmanned vehicles. As Automation Project Manager at CMOC Northparkes in New SouthWales, Dr Cronin completed the full automation of the world’s most automated under- ground mine where fully autonomous 50-tonne vehicles roam the production level 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no operators in the cabins. 

The DFS Update is based on maintain- ing the planned mining rate of 2,4 Mt/a. This mining rate was originally pro- grammed in the Original DFS on the basis of the 2015 assessment of the available sul- phide processing capacity at Syama. “Our study focus at Syama will now turn to identifying the optimal future mining rate based on the improved automated infrastructure we have developed and the significant progress being made on our processing capabilities,” says Welborn. “There is obvious scope to increase the current planned mining rate of 2,4 million tonnes per annum to as much as 4,0 mil- lion tonnes per annum.” Resolute has entered into a frame- work agreement which sets out the key parameters of the commercial relationship between Resolute and Sandvik for the full automation of the Syama Underground including the delivery of mobile and fixed equipment, operating software, mainte- nance of mobile equipment and delivery of training to maintenance and opera- tional personnel.

“Reducing operating costs and increas- ing production at Syama is consistent with our journey to build an operation that utilises best-in-class technology while maintaining flexibility to incorporate further advances in mining and process- ing,”Welborn continues. “We aim to make Syama the best mine of its type in the world and to ensure we unlock the full potential of this outstanding orebody. “The pursuit of world class mining and processing has been accompanied by a renewed commitment to, and investment in, exploration. The exceptional drill results achieved over the past two years have been followed by a sophisticated and rigorous mine design and evaluation process. This has resulted in an increase of nearly onemil- lion ounces in contained gold in the Syama Underground probable reserve. In addi- tion, we have discovered and commenced the delineation of a new ore zone at Nafolo. This is a breakthrough in our understanding of the size and potential of the Syama min- eralised system, and we are very confident of further growth in the resource base.”

July 2018  MODERN MINING  11