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Sunday, 06 September 15
AUTOMATION AND TECHNOLOGY IS CERTAINLY PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY TO MAKE THE MINE OPERATIONS MORE PROFITABLE, HOWEVER............ - LUKE JALSEVAC
 "The Technology and Innovation in Mining 2015" production team at Information Exchange Group interviewed Luke Jalsevac, Director, Business Optimization Global Value Assurance, Kinross Gold Corporation, one of their speakers for TIM2015.
“ When the price of a commodity is rising, most companies focus on extracting as much from the ground as possible to capture the high margins, which may result in diminished rigor around operational excellence. When prices decline, they often overshoot to the downside, creating substantial financial pain for companies " - Luke Jalsevac
Q: The central theme behind the upcoming Summit is Innovation and Technology. From some of the innovative projects that you have been a part of at Kinross, can you share some areas where automation has helped optimize your business?
A: While Kinross has not done a great deal that can be classified as purely automation, we have been implementing a number of optimization projects involving either data automation or automation of components of processes in both mining and processing. Our focus on improving operational processes over the past number of years is enabling us to look at technology for additional opportunities.
Q: Given the current market scenario for the resources sector, do you think automation and technology is the best way forward to make the operations more profitable?
A: Automation and technology is certainly part of the solution for improving performance and efficiency, however I would argue that it needs to be used judiciously. All too often I have seen technology proposed as a ‘silver bullet’ solution when in fact there are great gains possible from improving foundational technical and business processes first, often with much smaller investments. If there are underlying process problems, technology can in fact exacerbate the situation by adding significant cost and complexity without improving bottom line performance. Having said that, for more mature operations there certainly are opportunities for automation and technology to play an important role in propelling performance to the next level. As an industry, gold mining isn’t the fastest to adopt new technologies for a whole host of reasons, some quite legitimate, but it strikes me that there is much to be learned from other mining companies as well as industries that seem unrelated.
Q: The mining sector has been one of the last ones to wake up to the benefits of technology. From a traditionally orthodox set of operations to drones flying in the mine sites, do you see challenges in terms of employees being able to keep up with the changes?
A: There are definitely a number of structural challenges faced by mining that make it harder for employees to keep up with the changes:
As a general rule cutting edge technology originates in large cities, which is where the top technology talent want to live. Most mines are in remote locations making it very difficult to attract people with the skills required to manage and implement new technologies.
The primary input, the ore body, is usually quite varied throughout changing, making it difficult to automate and standardize certain elements of the process. Manufacturing, in comparison, doesn’t face this same challenge.
The cyclical, boom and bust nature of mining makes it difficult to invest in technology in a methodical manner. Typically speaking , when the price of a commodity is rising, most companies focus on extracting as much from the ground as possible to capture the high margins, which may result in diminished rigor around operational excellence. When prices decline, they often overshoot to the downside, creating substantial financial pain for companies. In this difficult environment, like the one we are experiencing now, technology is often one of the first things to get cut from the budget.
Despite these challenges, there is no question that there are significant opportunities for resource companies to adopt technologies from other industries to improve our performance. It will require the willingness to step out of our comfort zone and try something new.
Q: Would you like to share something about the ongoing projects at Kinross which involves cutting edge technology? What are some of the typical challenges you face when trying to convince the management to embark on such projects?
A: Our focus as a company over the past five years has been building a foundation to strengthen our processes in mine planning, maintenance, geology, operations, etc. As a result, our primary focus has not been on technology, although technology has played a par t in the various improvements. Some examples include: optimization of our mining dispatch systems and implementation of High Precision GPS (HPGPS); implementation of maintenance health monitoring systems; drilling and blasting optimization (e.g. blast hole monitoring); automation of daily production reports, and the list goes on.
Q: What are your expectations from the Technology and Innovation in Mining 2015?
A: I’m interested to hear from other mining companies about which technology has truly helped them improve their bottom line performance, but even more importantly, how they go about selecting and managing technology implementations to ensure that they actually achieve the expected benefits.
Luke Jalsevac, Director, Business Optimization Global Value Assurance, Kinross Gold Corporation was interviewed by the Technology and Innovation in Mining 2015 Production Team at Information Exchange Group
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Tuesday, 23 May 23
INDIA: COAL OUTPUT UP 8.9%, SUPPLY RISES 11.7% IN APRIL - FINANCIAL EXPRESS
India’s coal production jumped 8.85% to 73.14 million tonne (MT) in April 2023 and the total coal despatch during the month went up 11.66% to ...
Tuesday, 23 May 23
CHINA COAL OUTPUT UP 4.5 PCT IN APRIL - XINHUA
China’s raw coal output posted stable expansion in April, official data showed.
The country produced 380 million tonnes of raw ...
Saturday, 20 May 23
NON-OPEC OIL SUPPLY DEVELOPMENT - OPEC
In 2022, non-OPEC supply is estimated to have increased by 1.9 mb/d y-o-y. Out of this, US liquids production increased by 1.2 mb/d, mainly on the ...
Saturday, 20 May 23
GLOBAL COAL TRADE HAS REALLY PICKED UP PACE IN RECENT MONTHS, NOW FULLY BACK TO PRE-COVID LEVELS - BANCHERO COSTA
Global coal trade has really picked up pace in recent months, and is now fully back to pre-Covid levels. In Jan-Apr 2023, total global seaborne coa ...
Saturday, 20 May 23
MARKET INSIGHT - INTERMODAL
India is one of the world's largest coal producers and one of the world's largest importers of coal. The country uses coal mainly for power ...
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Showing 101 to 105 news of total 6871 |
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- ASAPP Information Group - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Australian Coal Association
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- The University of Queensland
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Planning Commission, India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
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