A novel approach to assess sustainable performance of blasting operations

Hector Parra1 | Barbara Onate 2| Daniel Tuazon2 1 W H Bryan Mining & Geology Research Centre 2 Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining The University of Queensland

Introduction | Sustainability matters| Proposed Approach | Advantages| Applicability

Sustainability in the minerals industry

• Mining is pushed to adopt higher sustainability standards

• Emergence of social and environmental expectations and obligations

• Sustainability criteria included to increase mineral processing performance

Sustainability in blasting operations

• To date, the contribution of blasting process to sustainability has not been acknowledged

• Traditional approaches have focused on direct impacts

Introduction | Sustainability matters |Proposed Approach | Advantages| Applicability

Why being sustainable?

Economic Factors

Cost efficiency Raw materials market

• Ammonia • AN • Fuel oil

Environmental Factors

Environmental management Energy efficiency Energy shortage Process footprint

Social Factors

Regulations Impacts management Corporate citizenship Social license to operate Economic incentives to best practices Reputational capital

Introduction | Sustainability matters |Proposed Approach | Advantages| Applicability

Being sustainable: A matter of decision making

Understanding blasting process as a set of decisions allows us to identify opportunities to obtain or enhance sustainable outcomes

– Highlighting the importance of each stage of the operation.

– Understanding blasting as a chain of interconnected decisions reduce business and operational risks

Frame the problem

Identify alternatives

Following up

Implement the

decision

Select the solution

Evaluate alternatives

Contract conditions

Introduction | Sustainability matters |Proposed Approach | Advantages | Applicability

The Dual Approach

Supplies

Raw materials selection

Raw materials manufacturing

Logistic

Stock management

Storage

Engineering

Design

Planning

Operation

Training

Standards

Operation control

Introduction | Sustainability matters |Proposed Approach | Advantages| Applicability

Advantages

• Modules have a correspondence to the current explosive contracts.

• The approach allows to better identify responsibilities in the relationship mining companies/suppliers.

• The approach permits to identify opportunities of improvement according to the main sub processes.

Introduction | Sustainability matters |Proposed Approach | Advantages| Applicability

Advantages

• This approach is based on aspect that are currently measured. Meaning that the company does not need to invest time in measuring new factors.

• Mining services companies can add value to their products.

• This model could be extrapolated to a wide range of mining operations.

• Model in development, still needs to be tested.

• Possibility for development a framework based on this approach

KPI’s

Procedures guidelines

Future work

Introduction | Sustainability matters |Proposed Approach | Advantages| Applicability

• Procedures – Supplies decision matrix. – QA/QC protocols. – Monitoring programs. – Environmental assessment.

• Technologies – Alternative oxidizers. – Recycled/biodegradable package. – Reused fuel. – Alternative remain disposal technique.

Options for sustainable blasting

Introduction | Sustainability matters |Proposed Approach | Advantages| Applicability

Think ahead

• Integrating sustainability into both operations’ management and planning will enable us to be proactive to variations in the market conditions.

Look for the value added

• Identifying opportunities for improvement from early stages of the process.

• Creating competitive advantage through differentiation of products and services.

Re-build the business

• Changing the way we look at operations will lead to a change in the fashion we make business.

Final Comments

Introduction | Sustainability matters |Proposed Approach | Advantages| Applicability