Fortescue Metals : automation deployment reaches significant milestone

Jun 23, 2020

The rollout of autonomous haulage across Fortescue Metals Group's (Fortescue) Chichester Hub is nearing completion, with the conversion of the 100^th autonomous truck just over 800 days after the project commenced.

The full conversion of 108 haul trucks at Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak is expected to be completed in September. Since the introduction of Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) technology in 2012, Fortescue's autonomous haul fleet has moved around 1.4 billion tonnes of material and achieved a greater than 30 per cent increase in productivity levels.

Fortescue Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Gaines said, 'Fortescue's AHS deployment currently represents the largest mining technology program in the industry.

'Our history of embracing leading edge technology has ensured Fortescue remains at the lowest end of the global cost curve and remains fundamental to driving sustained productivity and efficiency improvements across our business so we continue to deliver returns for our shareholders and key stakeholders.

'Most importantly, the introduction of AHS technology has improved safety outcomes and the Automated Mining Projects team has achieved this important milestone in the truck conversion with zero harm to any team members,' Ms Gaines said.

Workforce skills development has been a key aspect of Fortescue's automation project, with the Company's training and redeployment program successfully transferring or upskilling team members to new roles across the business.

'Training is at the heart of everything we do at Fortescue and as we continue the integration of autonomous trucks across our sites, this ethos has guided our efforts to ensure no redundancies and significant benefits to employees from the opportunities offered by this project,' Ms Gaines said.

Fortescue's AHS Fleet - Facts and Figures

• Fortescue was the first company in the world to deploy CAT autonomous haulage on a commercial scale at the Solomon Hub
• Fortescue's fleet of 168 autonomous trucks have travelled in excess of 47 million kilometres since AHS was first introduced - the equivalent of 65 return trips to the moon
• Every day, the haul fleet travels around 3.8 trips around Australia on National Highway 1
• As part of the Chichester Hub automation project, 549,500 parts have been fitted to date across 100 trucks
• Fortescue was the first in the world to retrofit Command for hauling (part of Caterpillar's MineStar technology) on a CAT 789D and Komatsu 930E haul truck