APRIL 2020 PP100007123 A product of Publications & Exhibitions Australia Pty Ltd australianminingreview.com.au BAT BOOTH ON-SITE MONITORING FOR VIRUS NEWS p6 TECHNICAL TALK p80 BREATHE EASY WITH VENTCHOKE REPORTS FROM AUSTRALASIAN OIL AND GAS CONFERENCE FEATURE p27 AUSTRALIAN OIL & GAS REVIEW Inside AUSTLIAN THE M INING R EVIEW Incorporating WHITE WHITE GOLDGOLD The world’s largest exporter of solar salt, Dampier Salt, is well-positioned to respond quickly to increased demand from each of its operations. 2 APRIL 2020 CONTENTS THE AUSTLIAN MINING REVIEW Mining Lifestyle p 41 PRETTY INPRETTY IN PINKPINK Feature p 33 VALLEY OF VALLEY OF PLENTYPLENTY In the Spotlight p 102 POSEIDON NICKELPOSEIDON NICKEL MANAGING DIRECTORMANAGING DIRECTOR PETER HAROLDPETER HAROLD NEWSNEWS News 6 Commodities Snapshot 4 Drilling Solutions 54 Heavy Haulage 68 Software Solutions 55 Information Technology 70 Protective Coatings 73 Air Compressors 71 Tailings Dam Management 76 Dangerous Goods 57 INDUSTRY FOCUSINDUSTRY FOCUS Companies Gearing Up 43 Pump Systems 50 Facilities Management 60 Air Charter Services 53 Second Hand Equipment 65 Labour Hire 52 CNC Machining 64 FEATURESFEATURES Growth in the Pilbara 22 Northparkes Mine 20 Dampier Salt 27 Roy Hill Mine 31 Centennial Coal 35 Mining in the Hunter Valley 33 Mt Arthur Coal Mine 37 MINING LIFESTYLEMINING LIFESTYLE The Golden Years 40 Tigers Roar in Pink 41 TECHNICAL TALKTECHNICAL TALK Ventilation in Mining 78 Pumps and Dewatering 86 Wear Plates and Repairs 92 Digital Twin Technology 98 Hydraulic Repairs 88 Mine Maintenance 90 Condition Monitoring 94 PUBLISHED BY ABN 28 112 572 433 GENERAL MANAGER Trevor Pickett trevor@australianminingreview.com.au ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER Biliana Harman biliana@australianminingreview.com.au MANAGING EDITOR Ray Chan ray@australianminingreview.com.au JOURNALISTS Kathleen Southway Kathleen@australianminingreview.co.au Linda Smith Linda@australianminingreview.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGNER Charlotte Lufino charlotte@australianminingreview.com.au RESEARCH Jason Strydom jason@australianminingreview.com.au Wayne Dyson NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Cal Christelow Cal@australianminingreview.com.au DIGITAL SALES CO-ORDINATOR Chrissy Nurthen chrissy@australianminingreview.com.au SALES EXECUTIVES John Carter, Joshua Dodd, Clare Ford, Donna Orton PRINTER Rural Press CONTACT US P: (08) 6314 0300 F: (08) 9481 7322 160 Beaufort Street, Perth, WA 6000. 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A product of Publications & Exhibitions Australia Pty LtdCOMMODITIES SNAPSHOT 4 APRIL 2020 THE AUSTLIAN MINING REVIEW MAJOR COMMODITIES QUARTERLY SNAPSHOT GOLDIRON ORE COPPER LITHIUM ZINC METALLURGICAL COAL THERMAL COAL NICKEL Rescources and Energy Quarterly March 2020www.industry.gov.au/OCEReserve your copy today Call or email ........ 02 8865 3500 aussiepumps.com.au Aussie Pumps Australian Pump Industries MINING IT’S A DIRTY BUSINESS info@aussiepumps.com.au New Aussie Blaster Blitz 5 The cleaning bible of the Mining IndustryNEWS 6 APRIL 2020 THE AUSTLIAN MINING REVIEW Units enable on-site virus checks A BREAKTHROUGH in Australian-made integrated hardware and digital technology can now be used as a tool for the remote management of onsite workforce COVID-19 transmission risk in real-time. The digital enablement of the units, named Bat Booths, manufactured by Mideco and developed by Pulse Mining Systems, will not only assist mining and quarrying operations to keep rolling during the pandemic, but also help to protect frontline workers from dust-related respiratory illnesses and other on-going work-related health threats. Bat Booth was originally marketed as a simple but effective device for reducing the risk to workers from dust-related respiratory illnesses such as CWP (black lung disease) and silicosis. The strategic alliance between Mideco and Pulse led to the development of real-time business intelligence dashboards for site supervisors and safety managers to ensure personnel used the Bat Booth as often as required by workplace policy. With the onset of the pandemic, Mideco rapidly equipped Bat Booth with apparatus for monitoring and checking the body temperatures of workers on multiple sites. This real-time health data feeds back into Pulse dashboards for instant management visibility, so managers are alerted in real-time if a potential virus carrier is detected. Bat Booth units can assist with the safe continuation of essential mining and quarrying operations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The dashboard visualisations and reports give managers greater visibility and control over workforce health, providing much-needed reassurance to employees and contractors, their families, and communities. Pulse managing director and CEO Ash Bosworth said while there can be no upside to COVID-19, it was a privilege for the company to be contributing towards greater safety for people working in mining and quarrying at the present time. “Mideco is an Australian company and like Pulse, making innovative products in Australia to assist industries around the world,” he said. Bat Booth is operated onsite by users via a built-in tablet with simple login. Live usage data is relayed to a secure, multi-tenanted platform by Pulse-driven data integration and analysis, which produces multi-level dashboard visualisations and reports that managers can access from anywhere. Managers in different roles at different sites can have their own specific dashboard views. Head-office managers can view multiple sites on one dashboard, with instant drill-down to details on individuals. Whenever Bat Booth detects a significant increase in a user’s normal temperature, suggesting the possible presence of viral infection, the anomaly is immediately visible on the dashboard and notified to managers by email or mobile alert. Managers can take the appropriate next actions without any delay. Mideco managing director Melton White said it had always been the company’s intention to extend Bat Booth capabilities beyond the core function of dust-related disease prevention, into other forms of occupational health and risk management. “COVID-19 compelled us to fast-track the implementation of body-temperature monitoring and we upgraded Bat Booth electronics for digital interfacing,” he said. “Rapid response by Pulse allowed us to bring the more powerful version of Bat Booth to the mining and quarrying industries when it’s most needed – right now.” Mideco rapidly equipped Bat Booth with apparatus for monitoring and checking the body temperatures of workers on multiple sites. The unites are manufactured by Mideco and developed by Pulse Mining Systems.Pulse Mining Systems CEO Ash Bosworth. RAY CHAN WANEWS 8 APRIL 2020 THE AUSTLIAN MINING REVIEW Iron ore leads earnings AUSTRALIA’S resource and energy export earnings are forecast to set a record of $299b in 2019–20, an increase of $18b from 2018–19. Resources Minister Keith Pitt said the latest Resources and Energy Quarterly (REQ) shows how resource and energy exports continue to support the Australian economy. “The strength and diversity of Australia’s resource and energy commodities have allowed export earnings to overcome challenging world economic conditions — to the benefit of the Australian economy,” he said. “Iron ore is expected to be the first commodity to exceed $100b in export earnings in a single year. “This is a result of high prices, as well as decades of investment, innovation and automation, which have placed Australia at the forefront of the global iron ore market. “Australia is also on track to become the world’s largest gold producer, expected to overtake China in 2021. “Our world-class geological resources and innovative industry have allowed a rapid scale-up in production. “With these types of numbers we are seeing that exploration expenditure is solid and that there is room for further growth. The best thing that we as a Government can do is to remove any red and green tape that will stifle investment and ensure that our policy settings and actions for managing challenges like COVID-19 are right.” Mr Pitt said the Government’s priorities were to: • Protect Australians’ health • Secure Australians’ jobs and livelihoods, and • Set Australia up to bounce back stronger when the coronavirus crisis is over. “Even if you’re not directly involved in the resources industry, all Australians see the benefits of the public infrastructure like roads and hospitals that the sector’s royalties help fund,” Mr Pitt said. “Australia remains well placed to take advantage of growing market opportunities going forward. “Our exports of coal, gas and uranium are crucial to global energy markets and our success in extracting and exporting lithium, copper, nickel and zinc also make Australia important in supporting new technology, including electric vehicles and batteries.” The latest REQ covers a five-year outlook period, highlighting the long- term structural changes which affect global commodity markets, including urbanisation, industrialisation and technological change. This edition includes information on the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the commodity outlook. This impact is assumed to fall largely in the first half of 2020, with commodities affected in a range of different ways. Oil prices face particularly significant falls as global demand for air travel diminishes. However, gold prices are seeing a substantial gain as investors seek safe options, with Australia is likely to benefit as our gold production grows. The latest Resources and Energy Quarterly is available on the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science website. RAY CHAN INTERNATIONAL RAY CHAN NATIONAL AUSTRALIA’S resources industry has vowed to continue to work with the Federal Government to ensure the industry remains safe and strong during the COVID-19 pandemic. Resource sector representatives, including the Minerals Council of Australia, NSW Minerals Council, Chamber of Mines and Energy WA, South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy and Queensland Resources Council, met recently for a roundtable meeting with Resources, Water and Northern Australia Minister Keith Pitt to discuss what measures the industry had put in place to counter effects of the outbreak. Mr Pitt said the government’s priority was to protect important industries, regional jobs and the community. MCA chief executive Tania Constable said while COVID-19 was so far having only a minimal effect on site operations, there was no room for complacency, and that it was crucial for the government and industry to work closely on monitoring and response. “The MCA will soon convene a working group of its members to ensure mine sites stay safe, open and in production as demand for Australia’s world-class minerals remains strong,” she said. “Business confidence is essential during this period. “Through encouraging exploration and investment, the Government’s stimulus package is good news for the country’s junior miners. “Australian mining contributes to national economic strength and is responsive and responsible, particularly during times of challenge. “Mining provides an economic bedrock for the Australian Government to meet its immediate and long term challenges.” Ms Constable said the Government’s $17.6b stimulus package would also help benefit junior miners, while boosting the economy. The roundtable followed an earlier meeting between senior mining executives and the WA Government to discuss ways of managing the pandemic. The resource companies assured Premier Mark McGowan that the wellbeing and safety of staff and contractors would be a priority in the event of a wider outbreak. Many FIFO workers also travel to Bali for recreation and there is concern over infected workers returning to camp. In two separate instances, an employee from Fortescue Metals Group and another from Chevron had been tested for COVID-19 after displaying symptoms, but both have been cleared. Miners vow support for safety and strength Sustainable mine closure CRC THE Federal Government has announced the establishment of a new Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) on Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC-TiME). The $29.5m funding for the CRC is part of a total 10-year investment of $135.4m to support the successful transition of mining communities to form sustainable community and development opportunities. The CRC is jointly led by the University of WA and the University of Queensland. The centre brings together a unique partnership of industry, government, universities, research organisation, including CSIRO, and community/regional groups with a vision for sustainable mine closures and community and regional development opportunities in Australia. CRC-TiME chief executive officer Guy Boggs said the centre had the potential to create hundreds of new opportunities and regional jobs through the implementation of restoration activities and increased supply of closure and post-closure products and services. National science agency CSIRO expected the initiative to provide a unique collaborative research opportunity to support regional communities facing mine closures. CSIRO will bring expertise across environment, mining technology, systems integration, and data processing and management into the new CRC, supporting the collaborative research program and assisting the CRC to establish nationally recognised demonstration sites where technology and solutions can be shown to bring positive benefits to the community and to mine closures. Senior CSIRO scientist Jason Kirby said the scale of investment across community, government and industry would have major benefits for regional Australia with several large mines reaching their end and closing in the near future. “This effort will support regions to transition to a more prosperous and sustainable post-mining future, acknowledging the need for whole-of- community benefit, including indigenous futures, environmental restoration, and economic outcomes,” he said. “The demonstration sites will provide an avenue to assess, test and showcase technologies and solutions through a unique collaborative platform.” RAY CHAN NATIONAL Runoff from the Burkunga mine in the Adelaide Hills, a legacy iron sulphide mine from 1955 and 1972.Next >