HAULAGE: Newmont invests in autonomous fleet at Boddington

[caption id="attachment_1003733752" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Truck loading at Boddington Credit: Newmont[/caption] AUSTRALIA – With approval for a US$150-million investment in an autonomous haulage system (AHS) at its Boddington mine, Newmont will be the first gold miner with a driverless truck fleet. “Not only does Boddington continue to deliver strong performance, our investment in autonomous haul trucks will generate an internal rate of return greater than 35% with a more controlled and efficient haulage operation,” Tom Palmer, the company’s president and CEO, said in a release. “We are also uniquely positioned in the gold sector to support effective implementation and operation of the fleet thanks to the technical capabilities and previous experience of leaders in our business.” The autonomous fleet is expected to increase safety and productivity at Boddington with a resulting two-year mine life extension. The AHS is forecast to be in place by next year, making the mine the first gold open-pit utilizing this technology. The autonomous Caterpillar haul trucks will feature a number of safety controls with no injuries recorded to date from AHS use at mines. Boddington is Australia’s largest gold mine; this year, it is expected to contribute 700,000 oz. out of Newmont’s 6.7 million oz. total gold forecast for 2020. For more information, visit www.Newmont.com.