Application of High Precision Mining for Optimising Load and Haul Operations at Kansanshi Mine, Zambia

Mining of copper and gold at Kansanshi is done in the Main North West pits using hydraulic excavators a mining fleet haul trucks. In recent past, there has been reduced truck deployment, increased shovel waiting time, production grade/quality ore delivered to crushers. Therefore, need improve productivity optimise operations mining, loading hauling. This paper focuses on use High Precision (HPM) through Wenco’s dispatching algorithm achieve best utilisation all equipment maximise production. The study involved establishing precise bucket positioning, rates, cycle times monitoring material type quality /grade was by BenchManager which relies motion Global positioning System (GPS) antenna scribing an arc as excavator rotated determine equipment’s centre rotation placing with teeth flat ground (anywhere) taking rover measuring left right tooth outside note coordinates, first eastings then northings lastly elevation. With tolerance X=0.5m, Y=0.5m Z=0.5m, it noted that events out assigned polygon were about 50cm distance from 34% 15% 10% 8% terms mismatches. precision led cost 10.3$/BCM, improved fleet/production reporting, high grade crushers 75% previous 65%. These results indicate strong business case for implementation Wenco dispatch system mine