Major players launch autonomy trials

Thiess has partnered with Norton Gold Fields (ASX: NGF) and EACON Mining Technology to launch a groundbreaking tripartite partnership to deploy autonomous haulage technology in Australia.

A formal agreement was signed during a ceremony held in Melbourne witnessed by senior executives from all three companies.

The collaboration marks a significant milestone in the Australian mining sector and advances the deployment of OEM-agnostic haulage systems through retrofit technology.

By integrating EACON’s autonomy solution into Norton Gold Fields and Thiess mining trucks, the project reflects a shared ambition to enhance safety, productivity and sustainability across the mining industry.

The project will take place at Norton Gold Fields’ open-pit gold mines in WA.

The rollout will span across two phases with the initials stage seeing EACON deploy its autonomy solution in two of Thiess’s Komatsu HD1500 trucks at the site. The primary phase will also focus on validating both the drive-by-wire system and autonomous functionality under real-world mining conditions.

The second stage will see the project scale to a fully autonomous haulage fleet operating within an active production pit and integrating into day-to-day mining operations.

The initial phase is scheduled to commence within the coming months and full production trials are targeted for early next year.

Norton Gold chief executive Wei Lin says that the project goes beyond operational efficiency and is about unlocking the potential previously uneconomical resources and contributing to local economic growth.

“By adopting EACON’s autonomous truck technology, we aim to address the shortage of skilled drivers, reduce our operating costs and enhance on-site safety,” he said.

“More importantly, this technology will enable us to mine low-grade resources that were previously out of reach — supporting community development, job creation and long-term value.”

Thiess group executive of autonomy and assets Ryan Kirkwood says that EACON’s OEM-agnostic platform, scalability and demonstrated results were key to moving the collaboration forward.

“Their technology, combined with Thiess’ 90 years of owning and maintaining mining assets across the world, provides the flexibility and proven experience needed to deliver tailored autonomy solutions across diverse mining environments,” he said.