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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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Wednesday, 09 September 15
FOB INDONESIA COAL SWAP LOSE GROUND ON SLOWING DEMAND
COALspot.com: Indonesian coal swap for delivery 4Q 2015 declined month on month and week over week.
The 4Q swap declined $ 1.92 (-4.52%) per t ...
Tuesday, 08 September 15
FOB RICHARDS BAY COAL SWAPS CONTINUE TO SHOW DECLINING TREND
COALspot.com: API4 FOB Richards Bay Coal swap for delivery 4Q' 2015 declined week over week and month over month.
The 4Q swap was down US$ ...
Tuesday, 08 September 15
GANGAVARAM PORT IN INDIA DISCHARGES RECORD 112,599 MT OF STEAM COAL IN 24 HOURS
COALspot.com: Gangavaram Port, an all weather, multipurpose port with water depth up-to 21 meters, capable of handling fully laden Super Cap ...
Monday, 07 September 15
THE MINE OF THE FUTURE WILL HAVE ONLY TWO EMPLOYEES, A MAN AND A DOG - SCOTT MCGOWAN
"The Technology and Innovation in Mining 2015" production team at Information Exchange Group interviewed Scott Mcgowan, Director, Global ...
Monday, 07 September 15
FOB NEWCASTLE COAL SWAP FOR Q2' 16 DELIVERY CLOSED US CENTS 25 LOWER COMPARED TO Q4' 15
COALspot.com: API 5 FOB Newcastle Coal swap for 4Q’ 2015 delivery declined $0.73 per MT (-1.68%) month over month to US$ 42.65 per mt. The sw ...
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- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Australian Coal Association
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- VISA Power Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
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