Rio Tinto moves 100 million tonnes using autonomous haul trucks

Rio Tinto is celebrating a milestone in the Pilbara region: 100 million tonnes moved by autonomous haul truck (AHT) since trials commenced in 2008.

The company operates 19 autonomous 930E Komatsu haul trucks across two mining operations and plans to increase to more than 40 haul trucks across three sites by early 2014.

Rio Tinto operates 13 AHTs at Yanicoogina and six AHTs at Nammuldi. The six Nammuldi AHTs commenced operation in March and have already moved in excess of 2 million tonnes. Hope Downs 4 will commence autonomous operation in 2014, with four autonomous-ready trucks already on site.

The company says the vehicles increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve health, safety and environmental performance.

“Since we commenced trials in December 2008, we have demonstrated improvements in both safety and productivity and in that time we have trained more than 270 employees to operate and work alongside these autonomous haul trucks,” said James Petty, Rio Tinto’s General Manager Mine of the Future.

“Our teams managing this equipment recognise the significant opportunity they have to be upskilled in a mining system which is at the forefront of the global mining industry.”

The company says it has seen a 10% improvement in utilised time with the autonomous trucks.