PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Caterpillar dealer WesTrac on Thursday announced plans to build a technology training facility in Western Australia, focused on providing courses in autonomous operations.

WesTrac noted that the center would be the only Caterpillar autonomous training facility in the world, apart from Caterpillar’s testing and training ground in Arizona.

WesTrac CEO Jarvas Croome noted that the investment would include a new fully autonomous Caterpillar 789D off-highway truck, the construction of an autonomous operations zone and training rooms facilities.

Construction is expected to start this month at a greenfield site near Collie’s Bluewaters power station.

Premier Mark McGowan has announced a A$2.7-million investment into the initiative, which will form part of the state government’s larger A$20-million Collie Futures Fund, aimed at diversifying Collie's economy and creating jobs.

The facility is expected to train approximately 204 students during the first year of operation and is projected to grow to 320 students in its third year, delivering training courses to technicians and operators of autonomous equipment and supporting the growth of this technology in mining.

“"People will come from all over the world to utilise this facility - the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere and the second worldwide for Caterpillar. Crucially, we expect clients to spend time in the town as they undertake their training, supporting local businesses and local jobs,” McGowan said.

"It will see Collie placed at the forefront of training workers - including local workers in Collie - in new technological skills for large-scale mining operations across the state.”

WesTrac is expecting to extend its service offering to the Asia Pacific region, and as such the facility is expected to attract local, national and international students and associated industries.