GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS: WESTERN AUSTRALIA
One of the many huge trains used to transport iron ore from remote mines to the coast of Western Australia. Photo: BHP Billiton
In 2013 minerals and energy exports accounted for 91% of all the state’s merchandise exports by value. Minerals output was valued at AU$ 89 082M (US$ 81064.6M) of which AU$ 68 071M (US$ 61 944.6M) was for iron ore and AU$ 8710M (US$ 7926.1M) for gold. Mining composed 37% of WA’s Gross State Product. Despite political wrangling the
importance of mining is recognised to the extent that, in an annual study by the Fraser Institute of Canada, Western Australia is the most favourably regarded administrations for investment attractiveness to the mining industry, and in the top ten in the Policy Perception Index. Tis was based on a survey of 4100 senior mining executives. Other mineral commodities produced in
Western Australia include, in approximate order or importance alumina from bauxite (AUD4117M), nickel (AUD3398M), copper, lead, salt (evaporated), cobalt, diamonds and coal, plus mineral sands and, later, uranium. Te industry is supported, in academic
and research terms, by the Western Australia School of Mines at Curtin University, based in the state Capital of Perth on the coast and the established
15 INTERNATIONAL MINING ENGINEER
inland mining city of Kalgoorlie. Te importance of extractive industries
to Western Australia, and Australia as a whole, has attracted frequent attention, often unwelcome, in terms of politics, taxation, environmental campaigning and social engineering.
Reduced demand
With reduced demand from China the industry is now faced with how it can keep going at a profit. Some smaller mining operations have already given up and closed down, and even the State is selling some assets to retain its credit rating in the downturn.
Improved efficiency
So what does this all mean in mining engineering terms? Most, and particularly the larger operators, appear to have decided that the only way is to invest in improved efficiency. If investment is not available, as is often the case with smaller projects, then the only path is the tried and tested one of cutbacks and making capital plant last longer, such as with improved maintenance regimes. Investment projects, as undertaken by
BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, and Roy Hill Resources are featuring widespread use of remote control at many levels, both in underground and surface mining, including the total removal of operators from the work-site. Even the operational centres are not at the mines but at control rooms at Perth airports. Far remote- control of plant is another matter of intensive social comment, especially with regard to whether the main reason is to improve safety, as is usually stated, or just to reduce costs. Even without the mine social infrastructure avoided by fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) operations, the savings achievable by eliminating many
operators are very significant (around $150 000 a year per head plus overheads we understand). Other benefits of remote control of
trucks and similar vehicles, and also drill- rigs, include consistent operational cycles, reducing the number of unpredictable incidents due to human error and other behaviour such as fatigue. Another frequent theme about plant
investment, particularly in trucks and some other vehicles, is the replacement of diesel drives with electric. Tis gains environmental care kudos but also has the potential for reduced maintenance and fuel delivery costs.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46