Data driven infrastructure strategies in coal preparation

¹ S2T Coal Pty Ltd, Sunwood Office Park Building 4, 1 st Floor, 379 Queen Crescent, Lynnwood, Pretoria, South Africa
² A&B Mylec Pty Ltd, Level 1, 146 Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill QLD 4000, Australia

^* Corresponding author: tsakani.nkolele@s2tminerals.co.za

Abstract

The coal preparation industry faces increasing challenges, marked by escalating capital and operational costs since 2019, alongside stricter environmental, social, and governance regulations. To navigate these obstacles, there is a growing emphasis on implementing advanced processing and blending strategies, necessitating the use of data science and analytics. Operations are increasingly investing in dedicated remote operations centres and individual site analytics to optimize short-term and long-term operational efficiency, enhancing profitability across the entire mine site. This evolution includes the development of geometallurgical modelling software designed to maximize returns from coal resources by analysing resource databases and financial models to assess various processing strategies. Enhanced capabilities using R Shiny coding and Power BI visualizations enable swift evaluations of infrastructure investments and production strategies over the mine's lifespan. The tool's application extends to individual equipment strategies, focusing on efficiency metrics to determine optimal feed rates and necessary upgrades. A series of case studies illustrate the practical use of this technology for scheduling capital improvements and optimizing supply chain dynamics for ROM and product stockpiling across multi-seam operations, ensuring resource management aligns with financial and operational goals.