Arena Simulation Software to Save Mining Company More Than A Million Dollars

Exxaro Resources is a mining company who chose Arena® simulation software to evaluate different production strategies at Exxaro’s Grootegeluk opencast coal mine to satisfy the need for a decision making tool.

In order to try to achieve higher production performance, the following simulation studies were conducted:
Þ Determine a maintenance strategy on blending beds vs. a bypass conveyor.
Þ Investigate an in-pit crusher and conveyor system vs. haul trucks to convey coal from the pit to the plants.
Þ Determine how an extra beneficiation plant would tie in with the existing mining operation.
Mine management needed confirmation of the plant design and requested more information on production sequence of coal benches; allocation of shovels with no increase in fleet size; increased size of haul truck fleet; size of buffer facility; and throughput.

The maintenance strategy project saved nearly US $1.8 million, and the input crusher and conveyor system reduced the haul truck fleet by four trucks, signifying a savings in capital and operating costs and a difference in NPV (Net Present Value) of US $5.5 million. The Arena model determined a bench shovel strategy that tied in with the existing pit operation, with no increase in shovel fleet size. Read more on success stories on the Analista website.