Constraints Mount to Slow Mining Project Growth in 2024
Even though capital spending growth will moderate this year, it should reach the highest level in nearly 10 years
By Joe Govreau
Global mine project construction activity growth slowed in 2023 and looks to have plateaued as the first quarter of 2024 begins. This appears to be a near-term phenomenon, as the energy transition locomotive, which spawned a dizzying amount of battery metal project activity, has encountered constraining market drivers such as subpar China GDP growth post COVID, slowing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in some parts of the world, and project cost inflation, which have combined to delay activity in an otherwise robust project arena. Mining project construction activity declined 2.2% over the past year based on the value of projects, dropping from about $269 billion in 2022 to .... read more
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FEATURE - Process Control |
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Control, Optimize, Integrate
We investigate the potential that advanced process control holds in improving the efficiency, productivity and sustainability of mining operations
By Carly Leonida, European Editor
Mining operations are under constant pressure to maximize their resource extraction while lowering energy usage, emissions, waste generation and water consumption. Advanced process control (APC) is one proven technology that offers a way to optimize recovery yields, lower energy consumption and improve product quality by automatically adjusting process variables based on real-time process data. Marc Poualion, Industry Solutions Director, Metals & Mining at Aspen Technology, explained: “Mines are increasingly deploying sensors and collecting vast amounts of operation- al data. APC not only leverages this data to identify patterns, predict process behavior and optimize control strategies, but can also .... read more
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FEATURE - Underground Mine Trucks |
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Reloaded: Introducing the Next Generation of Underground Mining Trucks
We look at future-focused technologies and upcoming product releases.
By Carly Leonida, European Editor.
According to new research from Global Data, the global population of under ground mining trucks and loaders, including active units and those in care and maintenance, at the end of 2023, totalled 22,927. Of these, 9,461 were un derground mining trucks, including 8,108 at active mines. Sandvik, Epiroc and Caterpillar are thought to account for around 75% of these, although there’s a growing range of options and innovations from smaller players too. Put simply, more mines means more trucks, and the firm predicts steady growth in output, as new operations ramp up over the coming years and others look to replace aging fleets. The highest deliveries ....
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Rigs Offer Automation, Remote Control, Integration
Drill rig OEMs race to perfect autonomous and remote control solutions and technologies, and eye horizontal integration
By Jesse Morton, Technical Writer
The big innovations in surface drilling include key advances in autonomous and remote control technologies and solutions. Both are said to improve rig performance and uptime while offering safety and sustainability benefits. Separately, one OEM announced a partnership for horizontal integration. As digital solutions proliferate in mining, the demand is growing for those solutions to be capable of integrating. Certainly, suppliers will take action to meet that demand. Meanwhile, an OEM reported that demand remains solid for basic, relatively low-tech rigs, revealing another, less discussed trend in demand that suppliers are also willing to meet. Separately, ....
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Alcoa Corp. appointed Matt Reed as its executive vice president and COO. Reed, who will be based in Western Australia, will lead Alcoa’s global operations, including bauxite mines, alumina refineries, and aluminum smelters. Previously, he served as vice president of operations for Australia.
Eldorado Gold Corp. named Paul Ferneyhough as its executive vice president and CFO. He succeeds the retiring Philip Yee. Ferneyhough joined Eldorado Gold in May 2021 to oversee the development and execution of the company’s strategic growth strategy. Most recently, he was executive vice president, chief strategy and commercial officer for Eldorado..
Integra Resources announced its COO, Tim Arnold , has retired. He helped guide the Delamar project from preliminary economic assessment to pre-feasibility study. The submission of the MPO (see U.S. & Canada, p. 8) represents the culmination of more than 3 years of permitting and baseline work overseen by Arnold and his team. Integra also appointed Scott Olsen to vice president, engineering and processing. Olsen has held senior roles with both Barrick Gold Corp. and Kinross Gold Corp. Most recently, he served as a senior metallurgical engineer for Hanlon Engineering & Associates.
Canagold Resources Ltd., the gold exploration company focused on advancing the New Polaris project, appointed Chris Pharness as senior vice president sustainability and permitting. For the past decade he represented Barkerville Goldmines Ltd. as vice president environment and sustainability, and more recently with Osisko Development Corp. as vice president sustainable development, after Osisko acquired Barkerville in 2019.
Morné Engelbrecht has been named CFO of Metals Acquisition Ltd. He is a senior executive with more than 23 years of diversified experience in Australia and internationally in the professional services and resources industries. Engelbrecht replaces Dan Vujcic who served as interim CFO and will now continue as chief development officer.
Electra Battery Materials Corp. announced that George Puvvada , Ph.D., P.Eng., PMP, was appointed vice president of metallurgy and technology effective today. He brings 30 years of experience developing effective flowsheets for recovering metals from complex formations and completing large-scale projects with some of the mining industry’s largest companies, including Cameco, Xstrata, Vale, and Inco. Located north of Toronto, Electra is executing a multipronged strategy focused on onshoring the electric vehicle supply chain. It is currently constructing North America’s only cobalt sulfate refinery. 
Caterpillar announced that Jason Kaiser , senior vice president of the electric power division, has been appointed to group president of the energy and transportation segment. In this role, he will have responsibility for the rail division, solar turbines, large power systems division, industrial power systems division, electric power division, the oil and gas and marine division, Cat Reman and the electrification and energy solutions division.
Superior Industries has added Kyle Donaldson to its conveyor components outside sales team. He will represent Superior in his home province of Ontario plus all of Canada’s Maritime region.