Abstract
The economic risk of the construction stage of a mining project results from the uncertainty in its duration and capital expenditure. Block-caving mining projects are characterised by long lead time to production, often longer than 15 years, and very high pre-production capital expenditure, resulting from large pre-production development requirements. As a result, the size and performance of mine development system are the parameters bearing most of the economic risk in the construction stage of block-caving projects. This study summarises the results of a research aiming to develop a management tool for real-time face allocation of equipment and operation performance modelling. The tool combines stochastic discrete-event simulation (DES) and Programme Evaluation Review Technique to optimise the size and performance of mine development system, thus minimising the duration of pre-production development, the highest risk parameter in block-cave projects. Furthermore, the model has an ample application potential in mining operations as a tool to assist management decisions in short-term planning and equipment dispatching system. The model was validated through its application in the Chuquicamata Underground Mining Project, in Chile.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1. See the Case Study section for further information on a macro-block configuration.