Newmont rolls out 5G underground solutions at Cadia, expands global community outreach

Following trial results at one of the largest underground gold and copper mines in the world, Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) will be expanding the use of next generation 5G wireless networks to improve safety in underground mining.

In February last year, Newmont announced a trial of 5G in partnership with Ericsson and Telstra Purple at its Cadia mine in NSW.

Before the trial, Cadia was limited to upload speeds of 20-30mbps using wi-fi to operate autonomous equipment such as ore loaders and remote-controlled mining machines.

With unreliable and unpredictable wi-fi connections under load, there was insufficient capacity to operate the required number of machines in the one area at the same time, particularly with the amount of video upload involved, and automation safety stops were regularly falsely triggered due to network packet loss.

Using Ericsson Private 5G, Newmont was able to demonstrate the ability to achieve upload speeds of around 90mbps along access drives and declines throughout the underground complex, and 150mbps upload and 500mbps download on all-important extraction drives.

The connections underground were found to be persistent and highly dependable, resolving historic limitations experienced with wi-fi and providing the consistent performance essential for remote control and autonomous mining systems.

Newmont chief safety and sustainability officer Suzy Retallack says the trial results were promising and successful.

“[They] show the extraordinary potential of 5G to improve safety, increase the number of machines that can be operated on a single network and boost production efficiencies in underground mining,” she said.

“These trials are part of the new frontier of technology in mining – using innovation to make our people safer and our mines more productive.”

Newmont will now use 5G to roll out more autonomous fleet like drill rigs, graders and auto haul trucks as part of future mining operations, relying on 5G’s unique capacity and capability to facilitate and streamline operational capabilities while deploying additional safety systems like radars and collision avoidance to improve overall mine safety systems.

Ericsson head of private cellular networks Manish Tiwari says the rollout of 5G is benefitting industry across the globe.

“5G is enabling rapid global transformation of industry, supporting digitalisation and movement towards automated, more efficient, and safer operations across a number of sectors,” he said.

“Ericsson is proud to be partnering with Newmont on demonstrating the potential of 5G to the global mining sector.”

Trialling 5G New Radio (NR) technologies on the surface at Cadia as part of the same initiative also demonstrated that new 5G innovations such as 64T64R Massive MIMO, beamforming and beam-steering provided a leap forward in available throughputs at the extended distances found in surface operations.

Newmont has now applied to ACMA for Area Wide Licenses to extend and embed Newmont’s use of 5G technology across its Australian operations.

Community outreach

Newmont is also expanding its global community outreach, highlighting initiatives the company and Indigenous communities work on together, in honour of the United Nation’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

Newmont says this day offers a special opportunity to pause and reflect on the richness of the Indigenous cultures in the locations where it operates.

“We are committed to ensuring we respect the unique rights, celebrate the cultures and learn from the past of Indigenous peoples around our mine operations,” Newmont said in a statement.

“We work closely with Indigenous partner communities to understand our potential and actual impacts to collaboratively manage them and work toward the visions the communities have for their present and future.”

Boddington, WA

Employees at Newmont’s Boddington mine site celebrated NAIDOC week with various activities, including a Welcome to Country ceremony hosted by Boddington residents for the Balladong/Wiilman-Noongar community leaders.

The celebration also involved a 50,000-year-old traditional dance performance by students from a neighbouring school and a hands-on session linking ancient tools and weapons to contemporary Noongar culture by Bill Bennell, a Whadjuk-Noongar anthropologist and archaeologist.

Tanami, Northern Territory

In early 2024, the Warlpiri teachers and Traditional Owners had their hard work and education excellence recognised, winning the Education category at this year’s NAIDOC Week Awards.

In 2005, the Warlpiri Education and Training Trust was established in a collaboration between Newmont and the Central Land Council and Warlpiri Traditional Owners. This trust was formed to improve education and training outcomes for the Warlpiri people in the Tanami Desert. To date, there has been more than $57m invested through the fund across its five education program areas.

Telfer, WA

Newmont Telfer supports the Martu Business Development Program aimed at empowering the Martu people to build economic wellbeing and self-determination. Facilitated by Australian Business Volunteers, the program offered to remote Martu communities and stakeholders now incorporates a financial literacy training and support.