“World leading Finnish technology:

history and future outlook”

Kari Heiskanen

D.Sc., professor

Aalto University

Content

• Some theses to start with

• A few worlds of history

• Discussion of processing paradigm

• Discussion of operations paradigm

Some theses to start with

• Paradigm levels –Operations, production

• Paradigm development – Effects on technology offerings

• Paradigm orchestration – Technology breakthroughs

Operations paradigm

• Compartmentalisation – Mining as a technical exercise

• Emphasis on production development

– Mining as an economical exercise

• Mining as an techno-economical

exercise – Life time costs

– Services

– Complete technical solutions

A few words of history

• Roots of the existing technology level are

– During compartmentalized operations

paradigm

– Engineering and maintenance arms of

operating companies

• Individual inventors within these organisations

• Focused on engineering and local needs.

A few words of history

• The history has taken us to consider more

solving the processing issues

– Better, bigger and more efficient machines

Weighted average percentage head grades of copper mines, 1970 onwards.

Crowson P., Some observations on copper yields and ore grades, Resources Policy Volume 37, Issue 1 2012 59 – 72

Processing paradigms

• Scale effects

• CAPEX / OPEX

Processing paradigm solutions

Courtesy Sandvik

Courtesy IMA engineering

Processing paradigm solutions

• Mill sizes grown to +28MW of power

• A single line with SAG/BM can treat +130 000 mtpd

Courtesy Metso

Processing paradigm solutions

Courtesy Metso

Processing paradigm solutions

Courtesy Outotec

Processing paradigm solutions

Courtesy Outotec

Processing paradigm solutions

Courtesy Outotec

Question ?

• Do we have enough of

resources to maintain our

competitive edge?

Some facts to the question

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Year

Vo

lum

e (

m3

)

OK / TankCell®

Dorr-Oliver has license for OK cells

Bateman has license for OK cells

BGRIMM

2002

2007

1997

1994

19911986

19801972 1989

2002

2006

2005

1992

2008

2009

FLSmidth

2005

Courtesy Outotec

FLSmidthOK / TankCell® BGRIMM

Future for processing ?

• Processing paradigm shifts

• Asking stupid questions

• Not taking anything granted

New processing paradigm solutions

Courtesy Metso

Changes

• Changing conceptions of Nature

• Social Media

• Position of raw materials in the value chains

– Perceptions

• Society averse to risks

Big issues to be tackled by changing the

operations paradigm

• Energy,

• Waste and other emissions,

• Water, – use and waste water release

• Workforce,

• Local societal fabric.

Operations paradigm

• Compartmentalisation

• Mining as an techno-economical

exercise

• Systemic exercise

–Environmental and social issues affect

strongly and form major constraints

when optimising the operations

Systemic paradigm

• Energy

– New ideas on comminution

• Will the SAG become obsolete in 10 years?

• Tailings

– Tailings treatment

• Water

– Real closed water circulation (indoors)

• No wet tailing ponds

Conclusions

Paradigm shift will happen

Do we want to lead or follow?