Barminco tests operations centre with WA mine

Perenti Global subsidiary Barminco has piloted its new remote operations centre with a Goldfields mine, following several successful trials earlier this year.

Barminco said it had recently operated a machine, working underground, from its head office in Perth via the internet rather than a direct cable connection – a method mine operators had historically used.

The company said the new centre would enable it to remotely operate underground equipment at a client mine site anywhere around the world.

Barminco chief executive Paul Muller said the operations centre was a key strategic initiative under the Perenti brand.

“Our ability to remotely operate underground machinery from our head office is a significant achievement in delivering on that strategy,” he said.

The Barminco Remote Operating Centre (BROC), in Hazelmere, was trialled with Sandvik and Independence Group (IGO) earlier in July for a machine at IGO’s Nova mine site in the Fraser Range, located approximately 360 kilometres south-east of Kalgoorlie.

Barminco general manager of technology and innovation, Darren Kwok, said the company was one of the first to operate underground equipment on a mine site at a greater distance.

“BROC enables us to connect multiple sites and operators at the same time, meaning if there is an issue at any point, we have contingencies in place,” he said.

“The advantages in improving the safety of our workplace and the efficiencies for our clients are enormous.”

Barminco said it was currently working with IGO to make the operating centre a permanent fixture for the Nova site.

It follows Perenti's recent announcements to exit two of its Burkina Faso contracts, following a security incident last month, along with several new and extended contracts in Australia and Africa.

Shares in Perenti were down 2.55 per cent to trade at $1.91 per share, as at 3:10pm AEDT.