Australian explosives group and Swedish mining equipment company Epiroc have successfully initiated live blasting with Avatel – a semi-automated wireless underground development charging solution at Agnico Eagle’s Kittilä mine, in Finland.
The companies says in a statement that the concept “dramatically improves” safety at the face, which is one of the highest risk activities in underground mining today.
The innovation enables a single operator to prepare and wirelessly complete a full charging cycle from the safety of an enclosed cabin while offering the best available blast outcomes through the integration of Orica and Epiroc’s flagship digital, automation and blasting technologies.
The first successful blast was loaded and fired last month, comprising 61 Orica WebGen 200 Dev wireless primers and 295 kg of Orica’s Subte bulk emulsion loaded to a development face at the Kittilä mine.
“We are proud to create history here at Kittilä where the first mechanised and wireless development blast was initiated. There is always some risk when working close to the face, being able to do this work safely and efficiently from the cabin is promising, and mechanising the process will give a better blasting result,” comments Kittilä mine development manager Jari Näsi.
The first commercial implementation of Avate will take place at Newcrest’s Cadia Valley Operations, in Australia, from December.