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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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Friday, 11 September 15
SHIPPING MARKETS SHOW MIXED EMOTIONS - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS
The dry bulk market has managed to show marginal improvements over the past few days, with the Capesize segment faring better than smaller dry bulk ...
Friday, 11 September 15
U.S'S WEEKLY COAL PRODUCTION WAS ALMOST FLAT PAST WEEK
COALspot.com – United States the world’s second largest coal producer has produced approximately totaled an estimated 18.6 million shor ...
Thursday, 10 September 15
U.S. H1' 15 STEAM COAL EXPORTS FELL BY 21 PER CENT Y-Y: EIA
Coal Trade
Slower growth in world coal demand, lower international coal prices, and higher coal output in other coal-exporting countries have all ...
Thursday, 10 September 15
INDONESIAN COAL BENCHMARK PRICE HITS A NEW LOW OF $58.21 PER TON
COALspot.com - The Director General of Mineral and Coal of Indonesia once a again revised down Indonesian coal benchmark price to US$ 58.21 per MT ...
Thursday, 10 September 15
IF NOT NOW, WHEN? - GIANNIS ANDRITSOPOULOS
Our industry is well known to be cyclical with some cycles lasting longer than others. Despite the fact that these shifts in the behavior of the fr ...
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- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Australian Coal Association
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- White Energy Company Limited
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- The University of Queensland
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
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