Pit optimisation is a quick and cost effective way of narrowing down options and evaluating various strategies. The optimisation process has the following benefits/capabilities:
- Easily able to evaluate using the current geologic model
- Quickly able to apply aggregation, loss and dilution
- Can apply complex geotechnical constraints
- Evaluation of various mining, feed, processing and product rates is possible
- Determines an NPV rather than a cash flow
- The NPV is based on a full mine schedule scenario
- Can run multiple scenarios in parallel
- On the fly reserving of each optimisation scenario
- Risk sensitivity modelling
- The ability to determine the optimal basal seam, Pit Limits and transition to underground
In a recent project MEC ran multiple pit optimisation scenarios for a Russian coal mine to allow the client to decide on a final go ahead case for detailed design and scheduling. This allowed the project to focus their time and effort on strategic issues and quickly move from concept to implementation.