Cobre Panama, a large open-pit copper mine owned by First Quantum Minerals LTD, has been heavily using AVEVA PI System as the data management tool for its process plant since it began exporting copper concentrate in 2019. However, the company recently found it difficult to integrate the data from IoT devices into its operations in real time.
To fully monitor the health of its large fleet of 56 mining trucks—each with 378 distinct tags—it turned to AVEVA Data Hub. By pairing AVEVA Data Hub with AVEVA PI System, Cobre Panama can now collect real-time data to enable predictive maintenance, which reduces truck downtime and increases operational efficiency.
“If we reduce the downtime on the trucks, we can produce more, which, in the end, translates to transporting more copper.”
— Reuben Perez, ICT Operations Lead, First Quantum Minerals LTD
First Quantum Minerals LTD owns many other copper operations besides Cobre Panama, including Cobre las Cruces, a hydrometallurgical mining complex in Spain that has been an AVEVA PI System user since 2010. Before implementing AVEVA PI System, Cobre las Cruces struggled with data collection and analysis. Some simple calculations, like grinding balance, took up to an hour-and-a-half each day due to manual processes.
AVEVA PI System enabled Cobre las Cruces to enhance its operational efficiency, data management, and reporting processes in its copper extraction and production operations. With AVEVA PI System, Cobre las Cruces significantly reduced copper losses, optimized plant water balance, and achieved many other outcomes that enabled more reliable copper production.
“It is important to deliver operations data across the company, but focused on who will access it. The right data in the right hands provides value by obtaining better operation control and performance.”
— Joaquín Gotor Martínez, Project Director at Cobre las Cruces, First Quantum Minerals LTD
Goals
- Reduce unplanned downtime and extended truck fleet equipment life
- Share critical data between mine operators, local experts, HQ, and key vendors
- Enable real-time monitoring of hazardous residual materials
Challenge
- Keeping equipment operating in coastal environments with high humidity and salt corrosion
- Integrating data from IoT devices into its operations in real time
- Reducing the risk of environmental disaster in extreme weather conditions
Solutions
Results
- Significant savings through smarter maintenance, damage avoidance, and reduced unplanned downtime
- Increased flexibility of maintenance services
- Reduced risk of environmental disaster with near real-time tailings management
