Automation Becoming More Prevalent in Mining

Mining companies are starting to transform how they operate, namely by embracing automation in underground work, according to a senior executive at Barrick Gold.

Michelle Ash, the senior vice president of transformation and innovation for the Toronto-based mining company spoke at the mining innovation summit in Sudbury, Ont., which wrapped up Tuesday.

The wear and tear on the componentry is significantly less,” she said of the use of automated equipment underground.

“We’ve seen that in our Hemlo Mine, where trucks have gone in for their major rebuild at 20,000 hours and … everything is almost pristine.”

A number of components didn’t even need to be replaced, she added.

The summit brought together experts from across North America — in fields including academia, the mining industry, entrepreneurs and government, as well as representatives from Indigenous communities — to discuss ways of supporting research and development in Ontario’s mining sector.

Ash said she was astounded by the number of mining companies and suppliers that are talking about some form of digitization of their processes or technology.

She added that one of her company’s goals is to get people out from underground and onto the surface.