BHP tests AI-backed copper leaching with Microsoft

A SYDNEY Law School energy and natural resources expert says a collective bargaining agreement for farmers will help them co-exist with miners and their operations. In her new book, Agricultural land use and natural gas extraction conflicts, Dr Madeline Taylor said the move towards renewables, in particular the expansion of the Liquified Natural Gas market, has brought about tensions between miners and producers whose land and livelihoods can be irreparably damaged by such activities. Dr Taylor posits a State-centric model, rather than the somewhat ad hoc adaptive management approach, as a way to level the playing field and ensure the best interest of all parties involved. “Instead of having this linear relationship between State, landholder and unconventional gas licence holder,...

BY JESSICA CUMMINS   A NEW $218 million research collaboration has launched in Adelaide that will develop new technologies to increase the discovery of mineral deposits across the country.   The MinEx Cooperative Research Centre (MinEx CRC) was opened at the Australian Geoscience Council Convention in Adelaide on 15 October. The centre, backed by a $50 million Federal Government grant, was a collaboration between 34 companies in the Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) and majors including BHP, South32, Anglo American and Barrick, which will commit $165 million over the next decade. It would also be supported by research organisations including the CSIRO, University of Adelaide, Curtin University, University of South Australia, the University of Western Australia, University of Newcastle,...

BHP vessels near Port Coloso in Chile. Image: BHP.   BY ELIZABETH FABRI   BHP has begun trialling drones across its ocean freight operations in an effort to increase safety and efficiencies for the business.   The global mining giant has been using drone technology for years across its iron ore mines in the Pilbara, Olympic Dam site in South Australia and coal operations in QLD to help measure stockpiles, and avoid working at height. The trial across it ocean freight division will see it play a key role in a tablet-based technology package, which incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) to provide a “digital view” of the ship. BHP Marketing Freight vice president Rashpal Bhatti said all of the company’s chartered...