Assmang Limited: How AVEVA Helps Mining Companies Improve Efficiency and Resilience
Mining giants Assmang Limited and AngloGold Ashanti have implemented AVEVA solutions to digitize their operations in South Africa and Tanzania. These projects have improved process transparency, enhanced alarm management, and introduced intelligent decision-support systems, ensuring resilience and productivity growth.
Assmang Limited | Black Rock Mine (South Africa)
AngloGold Ashanti | Geita Gold Mine (Tanzania)
Results of AVEVA Implementation at Black Rock Mine (South Africa)
Assmang Limited, one of the largest manganese producers in South Africa, implemented AVEVA System Platform to digitize operations at the Black Rock mine. This project delivered significant outcomes:
- Adoption of corporate data-driven management standards
- Modern control system with 24/7 support
- Integration with IT infrastructure and web portals
- Enhanced alerting and safety systems
- High-precision analytics and bottleneck identification
- Synchronization of laboratory data and advanced reporting
- Support for remote maintenance and rapid modernization
Project Goals: From Monitoring to Artificial Intelligence
Key objectives included:
- Standardizing management approaches
- Increasing process transparency and predictability
- Improving alarm registration and analysis
- Implementing an AI-based expert system using fuzzy logic to stabilize processes and boost productivity
The project was developed over 12 months and deployed in phases during scheduled shutdowns. Results showed a significant increase in efficiency and compliance with corporate digitalization requirements.
Flexible Solutions for Challenging Conditions
Project specifics:
- Remote mine location
- Requirement for simple, intuitive control
- Need for transparent expert management
Chosen Solutions:
- AVEVA System Platform — foundation for digital control
- AVEVA Historian — for centralized data collection and analysis
AngloGold Ashanti: Improving Resilience and Manageability
AngloGold Ashanti, one of the world’s largest gold producers, produces nearly 5 million ounces of gold annually. The Geita Gold Mine in Tanzania, the country’s largest, faced a period of declining productivity. In response, the company implemented an automation project to enhance resilience and manageability.
Unified Control and Equipment Modernization
- Replaced 17 Rockwell Allen Bradley PLCs, improving compatibility and fault tolerance
- Developed a dispatcher interface with streamlined screens and detailed viewing tools
- Optimized alarm management using Pareto charts, showing only the top 10 alarms requiring intervention
Expert System as a Digital Operator
The implemented expert system:
- Controls mill loading, ore feed, and energy consumption
- Uses moving averages and rule-based comparisons
- Makes decisions to optimize production
- Provides operators with clear, simple control tools
Key Advantages of AVEVA Solutions in Mining
- Reliable 24/7 operation with up-to-date software versions
- Integration with existing infrastructure and IT systems
- Support for corporate standards and compliance with safety regulations
- Intelligent analytics to improve efficiency and reduce costs
- Easy deployment and scalability for remote sites