Optimisation of open-pit mine production scheduling considering optimum transportation system between truck haulage and semi-mobile in-pit crushing and conveying

ABSTRACT

Despite the upward trend in using semi-mobile in-pit crushing and conveying system (SMIPCC), some mining companies still hesitate to use SMIPCC in their operations. Therefore, a framework is needed to facilitate decision-making between SMIPCC and truck and shovel system (TS) and satisfy the location and relocation time of the semi-mobile crusher (SMC). For this purpose, this paper presents a mathematical integer programming (IP) model considering the operational constraints. The model specifies both the optimum location and optimum relocation time of SMC. Also, it compares the production schedule for the TS and SMIPCC utilised for ore and waste handling over the life of mine. Then, the system with maximum net present value (NPV) is selected as the optimal material handling system. Finally, the model is implemented with a case study. The results show that implementing SMIPCC instead of the TS system for ore and waste materials improves the NPV by 69.77%.

KEYWORDS:

• Open-pit mine production scheduling
• optimum transportation system
• semi-mobile in-pit crushing and conveying system
• facility location and relocation problem
• truck and shovel system

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the SMIPCC cost data provided by Dr. Micah Nehring (The University of Queensland).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data are openly available in ‘Mendeley Data’ at ‘https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/6v8rwzd38s/1’, ‘Shamsi, Mohammad (2021), Final pit limit-block model, Mendeley Data, V1, DOI: 10.17632/6v8rwzd38s.1’.