FERREXPO
Digital transformation supporting sustainability and safety Ferrexpo is on the journey towards decarbonising its mining fleet by implementing mine electrification , transitioning to renewable energy sources for electricity , and making the move away from using natural gas in its pelletisers with hydrogen the most likely solution . “ Automation will also play a role in the future ”, adds North . “ It delivers efficiency and lowers cost inputs . So , if you ' re thinking about the carbon journey , with lower inputs into your process you ' re generally going to use less carbon too ”.
Ferrexpo is continuing its fleet autonomy journey with Epiroc . “ We first began automating our drills back in 2017 ”, recalls North . “ We currently have three semiautonomous drills being operated via a tele-remote process from our mining control room – we call the process teleremote . The driller now can come to work , sit in front of a computer screen with a joystick , almost like a Sony PlayStation , and get to operate the drill from the office . This removes our drillers from the mining hazards of the pit . They don ’ t work in a highvibration environment . There ' s no dust . And you ' re removing people from that person / machine interface , which is removing the potential for accidents to occur ”.
North also notes the spike in productivity when shift changes are minimised with continuous operation . “ We ' ve been running continually since 2017 , and the intention is to move to fullautonomous drilling as we expand the business . Once we ' re comfortable with the technology and our workforces have adopted fully , we ' ll move to the point where one driller can operate two or three drills at one time ”. miningglobal . com 53