OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT


REMOTE OPERATIONS CENTRE M


any mines already use a combination of advanced devices and techniques to


monitor and manage their tailings dams. Piezometers monitor ground water levels; depth meters monitor the level of tailings in the dam at specific points; and inclinometers serve as early warning systems for the potential of slope failure. The effectiveness of these


devices is vastly improved if they are connected to a real- time, battery-powered wireless monitoring system, such as


the Loadsensing systems from Worldsensing, according to Ramjack Technology Solutions, a company that is facilitating the effectiveness of these evolving tools. The firm states: “Moving into the future, we believe that the next step will be more adoption of the use of off-site, third-party specialist support centres, such as the Ramjack Remote Operations Centre (rROC), which remotely monitors and manages the tailings dam and other parts of the mine, and provides insight and expertise


via a team of industry experts who man the centre. “rROC is not just a way to


save on critical resources,” the company continues. “In fact, only months after the go-live, it was clear that there were many more benefits from outsourcing real- time monitoring services… the key components to ensuring a successful technology deployment are more likely to be achieved with ongoing, real-time support. System adoption improves, as does knowledge transfer.” l


(IBRAM), the national mining association of Brazil, announced it would adopt the CSR-driven Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative; while Centre of Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) and Mets Ignited, industry bodies from Canada and Australia respectively, have agreed to work more closely with each other, with one focus area being “tailings and waste management technologies that improve environmental performance”. “We’ve definitely witnessed a change in attitude. At Inmarsat, we have seen a very positive reaction to our tailings dam monitoring solution, not only from mining businesses, but also from regulators, insurance companies and investors, who all have a stake in ensuring that the industry improves the effectiveness and transparency of how it monitors tailings dams,” Carr says. “In Brumadinho’s region, we recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Minas Gerais State Government to explore how we could work together to improve the transparency of monitoring tailings dams and enhance their governance. “We are also in discussion with a number of stakeholders in the mining sector regarding the deployment of our tailings dam solution across their infrastructure in multiple markets.” Not only is this a reflection of technology’s evolving role in the mining arena, but vitally it’s also reflective of the increasing importance of tailings dams


IoT tools help operators build trust


and how important it is to monitor them in a more effective manner. A few years ago, tailings dams were near the bottom of the agenda, but out of tragedy some positivity has arose. “Now, tailings dams are the first topic that mining CEOs want to discuss,” Carr concludes. “It comes from a recognition that mining businesses need to hold up their end of the ‘social contract’; showcasing blatantly that social responsibility is at the heart of their operations. “By using digital solutions such


as IoT to monitor and manage their tailings facilities, they can demonstrate to investors, local communities and society more broadly that they are responsible businesses and that they are using all the tools available to them to proactively – rather than reactively – ensure the safety of their infrastructure. “It’s very clear to the industry that a social licence to operate is essential, and unless companies can maintain trust, they may struggle to build new sites and develop new projects in the future.”


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