01 September 2022
PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) applies automation in its exploitation of several mining locations in Grasberg. Although not 100% applied, automation of production is conducted to minimize risks and increase efficiency.
PTFI SVP, Underground Mine, Hengky Rumbino explained the company indeed does not deem it necessary to implement 100% digitalization or automation in its mining production. However, PTFI deems some mining locations do require digitalization.
"One of the primary reasons for PTFI application of automated mining is that we hold to the principle that we cannot compromise safety at work. As such we implement digitalization, remote control technology to ensure safety for activities in the underground mine that carry high risks and that we are unable to conduct manually, and these activities are conducted with application of digitalization,” he explained in Tembagapura, Mimika Regency, Papua, on Thursday (1/9/2022).
He said the greatest risks in mining in Grasberg are found in the underground mine, among others from the danger of wet muck. He admitted there have been incidents at work that led to fatalities.
"We have experienced several incidents in underground mine production in areas with wet muck present, and some of our own employees were victims, leading to serious injuries incurred and even fatality. So now when we encounter a mining area with wet muck present, we automatically convert use of manual equipment, in this case loaders, to remote control. We vacate the area of people, and only equipment remain to operate,” he related.
It is in these locations that mining activity conducted manually with heavy equipment is converted to remote control operations. Heavy equipment transporting mine material, or mine loaders are now operated remotely. Rock breakers are similarly operated remotely.
PTFI uses a fiber optic WiFi grid to connect the operators handling the remote controls, to heavy equipment inside the mine. And today PTFI and Telkomsel launched a trial operation of 5G mining technology.
Hengky continued, Grasberg has 3 underground mines, namely Grasberg Block Cave (GBC), DMLZ, and Big Gossan. Of these 3 underground mines, for now only GBC and DMLZ have implemented digitization in their mining activity.
"In each of these mines we have around 20 people operating mine loaders per hour, or a total of around 40 people. That is just for loaders, we also have rock breakers, and these are 100% operated remotely from ground surface,” he added.
The advantage of digitalizing mining operations for the company is that one operator can operate more than one heavy equipment. Whereas manual operation requires 1 person handling just 1 heavy equipment.
Additionally, Hengky said, underground mining entails massive capital. Special exhaust ventilation is needed to expel gas emitted by heavy equipment.
"We experience certain conditions such as at GBC, where production capacity is very high, meaning we are producing at an average rate of 100 thousand tons per day. Under such a condition we certainly require a massive ventilation system for the mine,” he said.
In addition to heavy equipment now remotely operated, PTFI implements an automated rail system to haul mine material out of the underground mine. The rail system is operated electrically and does not emit gas.
Kami menghimbau para pencari kerja untuk berhati-hati dan mewaspadai beragam modus penipuan perekrutan yang mengatasnamakan PT Freeport Indonesia. Dalam setiap proses rekrutmen dan penerimaan karyawan, PT Freeport Indonesia maupun konsultan rekruitmennya tidak memungut biaya apapun.
Untuk melihat lowongan, silakan akses melalui link berikut: ptfi e-recruitment
Untuk melihat informasi magang, silakan akses melalui link berikut: Internship Program
