Nutrien Pioneers Tele-Remote Mining Technology in Saskatchewan
Nutrien, a leading mining company, is taking a significant step towards the future of mining by developing cutting-edge tele-remote mining technology in Saskatchewan. This innovative initiative has the potential to transform mining operations, enhancing safety and efficiency.
Nutrien’s tele-remote mining technology is currently deployed at its Cory Mine near Saskatoon, allowing operators to control mining vehicles from distances of up to 20 kilometers away. This breakthrough is considered the first step towards automated mining, a concept that could revolutionize the industry.
The primary motivation behind Nutrien’s investment in this technology is safety. Traditionally, miners work in physically demanding and risky conditions, often in close proximity to the mining face. The tele-remote approach significantly changes these conditions by enabling operators to control the equipment remotely from a more comfortable and ergonomic setting.
Leon Boehm, Nutrien Cory Mine’s General Manager, highlights the advantages of tele-remote mining, stating, “Our latest endeavors and innovations include tele-remote mining and autonomous mining. This allows us to operate mining machines and equipment from remote locations, making us more efficient and safer.”
The technology has also transformed the way mining operators work. Instead of sitting on the mining machines as they traditionally would, operators now work in station set-ups above ground, resembling office environments.
“The operators work in a station set up above ground. They are sitting in office chairs, removed from the noise, the dust, and the exposure of the active mining face. The technology gives them full control, vision, and hearing of their surroundings one kilometer below them,” explains Boehm.
Chris Reynolds, Nutrien’s President of Potash, emphasizes the company’s journey towards tele-remote mining technology, saying, “We wanted to get people away from that mine face. That is how our journey towards tele-remote mining started 15 years ago. We are still early in the journey, but we are doing studies to see how much remote mining is improving safety.” Reynolds adds, “There are safety benefits, cost benefits, and it allows us to have a more inclusive workspace. There are just countless areas where we really like this technology in our operations.”
Besides safety, the technology has proven to be a catalyst for cost-efficiency. With operators stationed in climate-controlled offices, there is no longer downtime during shift changes, significantly boosting productivity.
Nutrien has developed all the technology in-house and collaborated with Prairie Machine, a local Saskatoon company, to supply the mining vehicles used in the project.
Prairie Machine, with a history of serving potash mines since 1977, specializes in engineering, designing, and building mining vehicles. They recently expanded their electric vehicle branch, Rokion, which has supplied vehicles to mines globally. These state-of-the-art mining vehicles, while a substantial investment, play a crucial role in Nutrien’s primary extraction of ore for the global market.
Kipp Sakundiak, Prairie Machine CEO, emphasizes the impact of their machines in the mining industry, stating, “Each miner costs 20,000 man-hours to put together. 2,500 unique parts and half a million pounds of steel and materials go into just one machine. They retail around 9 million dollars, but prices are up for discussion.”
Sakundiak also highlights that Prairie Machine’s vehicles are fully electric, promoting cleaner air inside mines. These vehicles have been sold in various countries, marking a significant milestone for the local company.
The shift towards tele-remote mining offers a promising future for the mining industry and workforce. As the world seeks more sustainable and safer mining practices, Nutrien and Prairie Machine’s collaboration in Saskatchewan showcases the potential of technology to improve efficiency and, most importantly, ensure safety for everyone involved.
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