Iron Ore: Detailed Mining Hub Modelling

Client
BHP Billiton Iron Ore

Project
Newman, Yandi and Area C Hubs

Location
Western Australia

Requirements
Deliver detailed simulation to investigate and evaluate the throughput capabilities of combinations of new and existing infrastructure, performance rates and operational rules.

As a current operational tool, detailed mining hub modelling is undertaken for Newman, Yandi and the Area C Hubs. These detailed models are used to investigate and evaluate the throughput capabilities of combinations of new and existing infrastructure, performance rates and operational rules.

In particular, how the mine processing plants interact with their stockyards and with rail operations are critical insights into performance behaviour and the determination of design and operational settings to achieve target production levels.

Many sensitivities can be tested, including:

• Incremental increases in throughput capacity by assessing impact of performance settings and operational rules.
• Step change increase in performance by integrating new plant, equipment and stockyards into an existing operation.
• Sizing stockyards to get the best balance between Mine performance, Plant performance, Rail performance and Project NPV.