Australian miners to lead global mining technology boom – report

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Australian miners will be the frontrunners in the global race for using cutting-edge mining technology to save costs, enhance efficiency and increase mine safety according to research released by market research firm BMI on Monday.

Sixty per cent of mining software used globally was produced in Australia and the country’s mining equipment, technology and services sector had grown into a A$90-billion industry.

There were currently more than 100 exploration and mining software companies in Western Australia, with  yearly sales ranging from less than A$1-million to more than A$100-million.

The main client base for mining software and technology were Australian miners like Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), which had been recognised as the frontrunners of advanced technology penetration in mining operations .

With the Australian government’s support for innovation and strong demand from the mining sector that made up 8.7% of gross domestic product in 2015, the country would remain the biggest global driver of incorporating remote operating centres, automation, robotics , fibreoptic sensors and other innovative, high-tech developments into mining operations .

Rio Tinto was one of the first miners to fully integrate mining technology, such as automation, into its operations. Rio’s iron-ore operations in Pilbara made use of the world's largest fleet of autonomous haulage trucks and was interconnected by 1 700 km of rail infrastructure linking four port terminals .

The system was run, monitored and continuously fine-tuned from Rio 's operations centre in Perth.

Meanwhile, FMG, in collaboration with Caterpillar, in March, embarked on the second phase of an automation process at the firm's Solomon Hub Kings iron-ore mine in the Pilbara region.

The firm  was in the midst of a multiyear process to install a fleet of 45 autonomous trucks to improve process efficiency, increase productivity and enhance worker safety.