Wet weather can have a significant impact on mining productivity due to the formation of slippery conditions on haul roads. When it rains, haul roads can become saturated with water, leading to flooding, road surface washouts, and the creation of mud and potholes. This makes it very difficult and dangerous for haul trucks to navigate the road network.
The slippery conditions caused by wet weather can lead to:
– Haul trucks getting stuck or drivers losing control, resulting in accidents.
– Reduced truck speeds, from an average of 60km/hr down to 20km/hr.
– Increased tire wear and more accidental tire cuts due to the rough, muddy road surface.
– Higher fuel consumption as drivers must constantly stop and start.
– Costly production delays, with mines often experiencing delays of hours when it rains or even days during major storm events.
These delays can be extremely costly, as mines need to operate as productively as possible to maximize tons per hour. Shutting down a section of road due to rain for even an hour can lead to losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
To mitigate the impact of wet weather on productivity, mines need to focus on proper haul road design, construction, and stabilization to ensure the roads can withstand wet conditions and recover quickly. Solutions include adequate drainage, using road stabilizing binders, and minimizing the need for constant grading and re-sheeting.
Citations:
How mines can reduce production delays caused by wet weather on … https://news.dustaside.com/mines-reduce-production-delays-wet-weather-haul-roads
Solutions for better haul road productivity and faster wet weather … https://news.dustaside.com.au/better-haul-road-faster-recovery-coal-mines
Dust Control and Road Stabilization for Mining – Cypher Environmental https://cypherenvironmental.com/industries/mining/
Haul roads dust emissions, the consequences, and how to act on … https://abcdust.net/les-emissions-de-poussieres-sur-les-chemins-de-halage-des-mines-les-consequences-et-les-racines-du-probleme/?lang=fr
[PDF] Mining spotlight on: Sliding productivity and spiraling costs https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Energy-and-Resources/gx-er-sliding-productivity-and-spiraling-costs.pdf
