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Open Pit Optimization Processes Of Okobo Coal Mine - Strategies For Improving The Economics Of Mining Projects With Special Utilization Of Minex Optimizer Programme
[Full Text]
AUTHOR(S)
Nwafor, C. Gideon, Nwafor, O. Michelle
KEYWORDS
N/A
ABSTRACT
Open pit design and scheduling problem is a large-scale optimization problem that has attracted considerable attention during the last 45 years. With development of the mining model, a pit design tool that facilitates the best overall theoretical cash flow mining sequence through the deposit could be applied. The mine design tool is referred to in the mining industry as "Optimizer" and is based on algorithm developed by Learchs and Grossman. The development of the "know-how" to improve economics of open pit mining projects through the use of mathematical optimization techniques goes back to early 1960's. Unfortunately, up until recently, many of these "optimizing algorithms" could not be implemented due to the limited capacity of the computer hardware used in many mining operations. During the last 15 years, advancements in the computer hardware technology along with developments in software technology allowed open pit mines to have powerful desktop computers that can solve complex optimization problems on site. Western Goldfield Group Nigeria has implemented an optimization and scheduling of its coal mine using Minex Open Pit Optimizer Programme (MOPOP) to schedule their entire mine and production, resulting in significant process cost savings. This paper outlines open pit optimization techniques that were utilized in mine planning of Okobo Coal Reserve, Located in Enjema District of Ankpa Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria, as a strategy to improve the economics of the open pit mining projects.
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