Epiroc Canada Interview with Agnico Eagle Team: Odyssey Mine
Agnico Eagle’s Odyssey Mine Sets a New Standard in Technology Transformation
The willingness to embrace mining innovation and adapt to new technologies are important characteristics of a successful operation. As one of the future largest gold mines in North America, Agnico Eagle’s Odyssey Mine has welcomed this technological transformation in the industry and is channeling these new processes into improved productivity & safety.
To gain insight into how the Odyssey Mine is benefitting from advancements in electrification, automation and digitalization, the Epiroc Canada team sat down with Patrick Mercier, General Manager, and Adam Arsenault, Coordinator Technology & Automation to discuss their recent collaborations.
Q: What are the benefits of incorporating autonomous vehicles in the Odyssey Mine?
Patrick Mercier, General Manager, Odyssey Mine – Agnico Eagle:
Odyssey’s technology vision has generated a lot of attention in the region. It means that when we do our job interviews, we get people who are very interested in technology. Everything related to electrification and automation helps us attract and retain the workforce we need for the mine of the future.
The industry is in the middle of a technology transition, the kind of shift we haven’t seen in 20 or 30 years. Here at Odyssey Mine, we’re doing it with electrification, tele-operation, automation, and with an LTE communication system. We’re breaking down barriers, proving that the new technologies are reliable, creating the new baseline for studies on new projects and proving that we can rely on new technology to run our operations and meet our objectives.
Q: How has the trial of the automated Minetruck MT42 improved productivity?
- What are the potential safety benefits of this method of operation?
Adam Arseneault, Coordinator, Technology and Automation - Mining – Production:
The trial of the Minetruck MT42 is conclusive for our future needs specifically for its ability to move in a turning ramp. Our productivity targets will be better met with our fleet of Minetruck MT65 ARVs, but we can say that we beat our record of tonnes carried in one shift last spring.
For now, the automation tests have been conducted in a controlled environment between shifts, with no workers present underground during the tests. However, we see potential benefits for the health and safety of our workers in the future, as this technology will allow us to limit operators’ exposure.
Q: How are you collaborating with Epiroc to achieve your ambitions to become a fully autonomous mine?
We want to maximize the automated functions and we're working closely with Epiroc to achieve this. It’s a great teamwork based on collaboration.
Q: How do employees/operators respond to these evolving technologies?
- Have any internal team members at the Odyssey Mine stepped up to take on leadership roles in the project?
We are optimistic that this will benefit our production. Once again, the collaborative efforts among different departments have significantly contributed to the success of automation, including the automation group, electricians, and the mining operation department.
Q: How have you worked with the Epiroc team to make your automation roadmap adaptable to your needs on site?
- Has the Agnico Eagle team been involved in product development with Epiroc’s personnel?
The key to our success lies in our collaboration with Epiroc since the start of automation in our operations earlier this year. Our experience with the Minetruck MT42 allows us to conclude that we can move on to the next stage and convert our entire fleet of Minetruck MT65s.
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As the Agnico Eagle team continues to collaborate with Epiroc and Meglab Powered by Epiroc to reach their productivity objectives, their successful automation trials and technology implementations are a promising sign for the entire industry. Ultimately, the Odyssey Mine is showing what is possible for other large mining operations who hope to transition to innovative mining methods and benefit from improved production levels and heightened safety.
