Hanno Buys
Senior Consultant (Mining Engineering), SRK Consulting (UK)
Hanno is a senior consultant mining engineer at SRK's offices in the United Kingdom. He specializes in open pit mine development studies, mine planning and operational improvement. Utilizing his technical expertise in pit optimization, pit design and production scheduling software, he is experienced in providing tailored solutions to a wide range of operations, ensuring that mine planning is optimal. He also has extensive knowledge in mine development studies having served as a Competent Person in Platinum group metals, Base Metals (Copper and Cobalt) and bulk commodities (Iron and Manganese Ore). Prior to becoming a mining consultant, Hanno held various roles in Mine Planning and Business Improvement at Anglo American - Platinum operations in South-Africa. He also holds a Masters degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Pretoria in South-Africa.
Open pit mine planning considerations for electric and autonomous haulage
Recent open pit mining studies have identified material benefits that can be achieved through the application of autonomous battery electric technologies to truck haulage fleets. These benefits include, but are not limited to, steeper haul ramps (resulting in steeper overall slopes), reduced labour, increased shift efficiency (and productivity), reduced maintenance and improved safety. To benefit from these advances in technology, various considerations need to be incorporated through all phases of mine planning. Many of the value drivers in an open pit mine operation are dynamic in nature and frequent changes to the mine plan over time are required to remain optimal. The approach to open pit mine planning needs to evolve in order to take into consideration the opportunity as well as limitation impacts these technologies have on the mine plan. This presentation will explore some of the current considerations for open pit mine planning for recent developments of automation and battery-electric technologies for truck haulage fleets