Abstract

TETTEH, M.  and  CAWOOD, F.T.. Design considerations for critical coal measurement points: towards accurate reconciliation for integrated mine planning. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2017, vol.117, n.7, pp.629-635. ISSN 2411-9717.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2017/v117n7a4.

Integrated coal mine planning requires integration of mine planning technical inputs like survey, geology, planning, mining, processing, and finance. A comprehensive strategy on tracking, measuring, and reconciling coal from the mine plan to the customer is needed to achieve this. The ultimate aim is to have confidence in the coal measurement, accounting, and reporting processes so that the effectiveness of the entire planning process can be measured for compliance with business standards. For such leading practice it is necessary to determine measurement protocols at carefully selected measuring points. The design of such critical measurement points to allow for integrity and accurate reconciliation in the context of integrated mine planning is the topic of this article, with reference to a typical surface (dragline) coal mine operation. A general surface coal mine flow diagram was developed. For a flow and distribution system for such a mine, five critical measurement points are expected. These are the output of mine planning and scheduling process; post-mining pit survey and highwall mapping; the quantity and quality of feed material; quantity and quality of coal product; and the coal distribution process which extends from the product to the preparation plant and point of sale to the customer. In order to prevent inherent human errors, key data must be captured and recorded electronically and automatically. A digital mining approach allowing for automation tracking, measuring, reconciling and reporting of coal along the value chain is recommended.

Keywords : integrated mine planning; processing plant; critical coal measurement points; accurate reconciliation.

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