Rockwell Automation given development contract for Chuquicamata underground mine

The worlds largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information has been awarded a major contract to work on and develop the worlds largest open pit mine.

Rockwell Automation has been awarded a $50 million contract by Codelco to supply a “number of important” systems for the Chuquicamata underground mine.

The Chuquicamata underground mine, dubbed a “super cave” mine, is currently undergoing a huge $4.3 billion operational transformation which will allow Codelco to exploit the remaining resources under the current deposit until year 2058.

This will transition one of the world’s largest open-pit mines into an underground mine, one of the largest, most efficient, and advanced in the world.

Rockwell Automation will collaborate in the transformation of the century-old, open-pit mine, one of the world’s largest, into a technologically advanced “super cave” mine that uses a block-caving extraction process. This advanced method is expected to extend the life of the mine by at least 40 years, improving its asset utilization

The company will implement a block-caving extraction process which is expected to extend the life of the mine by at least 40 years, improving its asset utilization.

Related stories:

Codelco moves forward with CEO on digital transformation plan

Codelco to alter Andina copper mine after criticism from environmentalists

Codelco's $4billion underground copper mine development on track for 2019 production date

“We are pleased that Codelco has selected us for this epic mining project,” said Alejandro Capparelli, president, Rockwell Automation Latin America.

“We are committed to helping our customers bring the connected enterprise to life. Our work together will increase mine throughput and lower operating costs. By leveraging Rockwell Automation’s integrated control and information systems, connected services and deep domain expertise, Codelco will extract more value at every stage of their mining operation.”

Rockwell is currently the engineering and construction phase, in advance of a project start-up by mid-2019. Annual production is projected to be 320,000 tons of fine copper and 15,000 tons of molybdenum.