IPCC - an alternative to conventional material transport systems
A mining operation’s capital and operational costs depend directly on the material transport system. Conventional truck haulage, as today´s predominant means of material transport in surface mines, is well established, with these systems providing excellent flexibility; however, they can contribute up to 60% of the overall mining cost.
IPCC represents a viable, safer and less fossil fuel dependent alternative.
A typical IPCC system comprises fully-mobile, semi-mobile or fixed in pit crushing stations connected to a network of conveyors and spreaders (for waste) or stackers (for ore) to efficiently transport material out of a mine.
Besides the significant potential to reduce opex, IPCC systems offer a number of other benefits too:
- Improved safety due to decreased mobile vehicle usage
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions of up to 25%
- Noise level reduction of up to 35%
- Dust emission reduction of up to 40%
- Reduced manpower requirements of between 40 – 60% due to higher automation
- Reduced spare part and maintenance requirements
- Possible electrical power generation on downhill conveyors
- Reduced bad weather downtime