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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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Saturday, 25 March 23
COAL INDIA HAS STRONG CASE TO INCREASE PRICES, TALKS ON: CMD AGRAWAL - BUSINESS STANDARD
Coal India (CIL) Chairman and Managing Director Pramod Agrawal said on Monday there is a “strong case” for increasing coal prices, and ...
Saturday, 25 March 23
ASIAN CRUDE PALM OIL WATCH 1Q23 - FITCH RATINGS
Malaysian benchmark crude palm oil (CPO) spot prices have averaged around USD915 per tonne (t) so far in 1Q23, sharply lower than the average of ar ...
Saturday, 25 March 23
INDONESIA’S COAL EXPORT INCREASED BY 21.0% YOY TO 388.4 MLN T IN 2022 - BANCHERO COSTA
After a slow start in the first quarter, global coal trade has really picked up pace last year, and is now fully back to pre-Covid levels. In the f ...
Saturday, 25 March 23
GLOBAL LNG-ASIA SPOT PRICES SLIP AS WEAK NORTHERN DEMAND REMAINS - REUTERS
Asian spot prices of liquefied natural gas (LNG) declined this week, falling to a 21-month low, as weak demand in the northeast Asia region continu ...
Wednesday, 22 March 23
OIL PRICE FALL SPECULATIVE, TO HIT $140 BY YEAR-END -ANDURAND: REUTERS
The recent fall in oil prices due to banking jitters is speculative and oil will hit $140 a barrel by the end of the year, hedge fund manager Pierr ...
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- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- The University of Queensland
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Australian Coal Association
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
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