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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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Thursday, 17 September 15
LOW DEMAND PUSH COAL SWAP DOWN
COALspot.com: Indonesian coal swap for delivery 4Q 2015 declined month on month and gain week over week.
The 4Q swap declined $ 1.77 (-4.17%) ...
Thursday, 17 September 15
MARKET INSIGHT - KONSTANTINOS KONTOMICHIS
Having experienced, as it was much anticipated, a poor 1st half combined with negative forecasts, summer, in sharp contrast, proved to be more hope ...
Wednesday, 16 September 15
SLOWER GROWTH IN WORLD COAL DEMAND AND LOWER INTERNATIONAL COAL PRICES LED A DECLINE IN INDONESIAN COAL PRODUCTION
COALspot.com: Slower growth in world coal demand particularly China and lower international coal prices have led to a decline in Indonesian coal pr ...
Wednesday, 16 September 15
HIGHER TAXES COULD LEAD GREEK SHIP OWNERS OUT OF THE COUNTRY - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
A potential taxation overhaul of the shipping industry in Hellas, which could see the loss of particular tax benefits for ship owners, could lead t ...
Tuesday, 15 September 15
WORLD SEABORNE TRADE: ENTERING INTO A ROLE REVERSAL? - CLARKSONS
Over the past decade, world seaborne trade growth has been dominated by dry bulk and container trade. However, developments in the global economy t ...
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Showing 2811 to 2815 news of total 6871 |
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- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- PTC India Limited - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
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