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1) Glencore's Lomas Bayas copper mine in Chile has taken a big step in embracing autonomous technology by introducing a fleet of autonomous haul trucks. This move aligns with their vision of "mining 4.0," leveraging digital and autonomous systems to enhance operations. These trucks, the Komatsu 930E-5, equipped with the FrontRunner system, will initially operate separately from the main pit, covering about a kilometer autonomously, aiming to reduce fuel consumption by up to 4% and improve safety by using sensors to detect potential hazards. If successful, Glencore plans to expand the autonomous fleet, aiming to have the entire 27-truck fleet at Lomas Bayas running autonomously by 2025. Additionally, they intend to introduce autonomous trolley trucks, supporting their decarbonization goals by deveoping a power supply through trolley assist. The company aims to ensure the safety and efficiency of these systems at Lomas Bayas before deploying them across their other global sites.
2) The US Bureau of Land Management has given Nevada Gold Mines (NGM) the green light to NGM's operational plan for its Goldrush underground mine within the Cortez complex, allowing for the mine's gradual scaling up beginning the following year. Expected to yield 130,000 ounces in 2024, Goldrush aims to reach an annual output of approximately 400,000 ounces by 2028, as announced by Barrick Gold. With an investment exceeding $370 million to date, Barrick and NGM anticipate a total spend of $1 billion to achieve the intended production. The project's progress remains on track, with recruitment efforts being escalated, and the arrival of production equipment remaining on schedule. Goldrush's development phase is set to generate around 500 jobs, followed by 570new job opportunities during its operational phase. Mark Bristow, Barrick's president and CEO, emphasizes that Goldrush's inclusion will not only expand the asset base complementing three existing tier-one mines but also underscores the substantial growth potential within the Cortez complex. NGM, predominantly owned and managed by Barrick Gold, stands as the largest gold production complex globally.