A new collaboration between BHP and Microsoft used artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve copper recovery at the world’s largest copper mine.
At BHP’s Escondida operations in Chile, the use of new digital technologies to optimize the performance of concentrators is expected to improve copper recovery.
By enhancing the capabilities of new digital technologies with new ways of working, the team at Escondida is well-positioned to create more value from existing resources, said Laura Tyler, chief technology officer at BHP. Stated.
“We expect the next big wave in mining to come from the advanced use of digital technology. We need to use next-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics to extract more production and value from our mines,” she said.
BHP said that in order to keep pace with the development of decarbonization technologies such as electric vehicles, offshore wind and solar power, which are assumed in the 1.5 degree scenario, the world will reduce copper production over the next 30 years compared to the previous 30 years. We estimate that we need to double1.
John Montgomery, CVP of AI Platforms at Microsoft, said:
Using a combination of real-time plant data from the refiners and AI-based recommendations from Microsoft’s Azure platform, Escondida’s refiner operators can improve operational efficiency to impact ore processing and grade recovery. You will be able to adjust the variables.
BHP is the world’s top three copper producer and has the largest copper reserves of any company in the world.2. BHP has operated the Escondida open pit mine in the Atacama Desert in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile for more than 30 years.
1 See the BHP Climate Change Report for the assumptions, consequences and limits of this 1.5°C scenario.
2020 is available on BHP.com.
2 Based on ownership. Competitors include Anglo American, Antofagasta, Codelco, First Quantum Minerals, Freeport,
Glencore, Rio Tinto, Southern Copper, Tech. Source: Wood Mackenzie Ltd, Q1 2022.
