Redpath uses its global experience to meet OT Underground challenge

The Mongolian Mining Journal . /Sep.2019/

Redpath Mongolia is celebrating the completion of 15 years of presence in Mongolia. Its biggest responsibility here has been the lateral development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine, and Scott Hayne, Executive Director, tells MMJ about the challenges that have cropped up and how he is confident that the company’s wide experience will lead it to success, with the help of a skilled and motivated Mongolian workforce. 

Your company is well known in the global mining industry. How important are your Oyu Tolgoi operations in terms of your total responsibilities? What are some other global projects that you now have? 
Redpath is currently involved with over 90 projects globally, spanning 13 countries. Our employee base in Mongolia accounts for just over 15% of Redpath’s workforce worldwide.  

Our work includes mine development, underground construction, shaft sinking, engineering and technical services, raiseboring, and contract mining. Global experience has given Redpath regulatory knowledge, regional experience, and cultural sensitivity. As in Mongolia, we’ve implemented large national training programs across many continents such as Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America.

The Mongolian culture has a foundation in a distinct and rich history reflected in the strength and work ethic of the national workforce. Redpath employees have often shown that the relationships developed through this work have been just as impactful as the accomplished work itself.

OT is in one of the world’s biggest underground mines, and the issue of safety must be particularly challenging. How do you approach it?
The safety of the workforce remains paramount in the execution of our work. Redpath has celebrated some impressive safety milestones at Oyu Tolgoi over the last year, but when it comes to safety, the job is never truly over. Redpath’s philosophy supports the idea that every job can be completed safely. Through partnership with Oyu Tolgoi LLC, a rigorous safety and training program has been designed and implemented, covering all aspects of our underground operation. Emphasis on safety leadership principles and accountability of underground supervisors and operators is a critical part of Redpath’s training programs, and the Mongolian workforce has been empowered to stop and correct wherever required, despite any impact it may have on cost or schedule.

Redpath’s Mongolian workforce has been very successful in adopting leadership roles. The workforce continually reinforces high safety standards at the project, which align with Redpath and Rio Tinto’s safety philosophies and policies.

Conditions at the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine have turned out to be more difficult than expected. What exactly are the new geological conditions you now face? Are you confident that your wide experience and well-honed skills are adequate to meet the challenge?
There have been many occurrences of poor ground when mining across the footprint of the block cave. Geologic structures such as the Lower Fault offered a challenge as the highly altered ground can be very soft and tends to fall out after a completed blast. Additional ground support is required in these instances, and this adds time and effort to the mining cycle, slowing down the overall rate of advance. Implementing a variety of ground support options to solidify the ground and keep advancing the face assists in keeping things on track.

Redpath’s vast global experience has given the workforce excellent preparatory skills for mining through these geologic intersections. Purposefully designed internal systems used by Redpath trigger shorter blasting lengths and a variety of blast patterns intended to protect the ground from damage. This optimized process allows mining through the area, creating superior tunnel profile. Close coordination with the Oyu Tolgoi Geology and Geotechnical departments aids in the forecast of upcoming ground conditions and allowing the mining systems to adapt and minimize delays due to poor ground. Incorporation of Redpath best practices in the design provides a proven methodology of how to handle adverse ground conditions.

How do you manage to transfer ever advancing technologies to your operations to keep them optimally efficient and eco-friendly? How do you see the future of the technology to develop underground mines, which is your forte?
As an industry leader, Redpath fosters innovation and continuous improvement as constant drivers behind new developments. Refining safety, productivity and economy in current methodology is high priority at Redpath. The introduction of new technology or tools may provide incremental or radical improvements to methodologies, but placing emphasis on the exploration of these options is important to ensure that work continues to be completed in the safest and most effective manner possible. Redpath embraces and utilizes data analytics tools such as Pitram and Tableau, which produce leading indicators about mining cycle improvements reflected in advance rates. These tools also collect safety metrics, which can assist in the identification of concerning areas, offering an opportunity to correct a situation before it develops into a hazardous condition.

In many circumstances, the most impactful improvements involve the adoption of existing technological advancements to the underground environment. Examples include improvements to safety devices and controls in shaft sinking operations, and instrumentation and communication applications in our lateral development and underground construction projects. As we continue to investigate further improvements, we expect to see an increased focus on tele-remote and autonomous applications, which further reduces the exposure of our people from underground hazards by offering the ability to perform tasks from surface.