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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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Monday, 28 September 15
CAPESIZE FLEET INCREASES BY JUST 1 VESSEL DURING LAST 12 MONTHS, IN POSITIVE SIGN FOR DRY BULK SHIPPING MARKET - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
After a rather tumultuous period, the shipping industry and more particular the dry bulk market has started to adjust to the new realities of globa ...
Monday, 28 September 15
Q1'16 CFR SOUTH CHINA COAL SWAP ROSE 2.73 PER CENT M-M
COALspot.com: API 8 CFR South China Coal swap for 4Q’ 2015 delivery moved upward US$ 1.45 (3.04 %) per ton month over month.
A commodity ...
Sunday, 27 September 15
THE PANAMAX INDEX FELL 1.19 PCT WEEK OVER WEEK
COALspot.com: The BDI closed Friday (25/09/2015) at 943 points, down by 17 points compared to previous Friday closing (18/09/2015). The BDI wa ...
Friday, 25 September 15
COAL PRODUCTION IN THE U.S. FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 19 ROSE 2.5% PER CENT W-W
COALspot.com – United States the world’s second largest coal producer has produced approximately totaled an estimated 17.8 million shor ...
Wednesday, 23 September 15
CAPESIZE: SPOT RATES HAVE INCREASED MORE THAN 70 PER CENT DURING LAST WEEK
Dry Bulk owners, always look at September as the time that the market “signals” what lies ahead for the remainder of the year. The Chin ...
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- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- The University of Queensland
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
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