Absrract
The approach to asset degradation due to corrosion in commodity mining is often seen as ‘something we have to live with’. There is a wide variety of unique degradation challenges associated with mine sites; often associated with the use of lower quality water sources for processing. This has important consequences for costs and can impact the environmental license to operate.
While there is general agreement from mine operators that corrosion failures contribute to production losses, unscheduled downtime, maintenance spend and safety and environmental incidents, baseline business risks are not being identified, measured or tracked.
This case study will show how a Corrosion Control Management Plan (CCMP) is being developed for an operating gold mine, which will incorporate people, systems and technology. The CCMP is based on KPIs (key performance indicators), which are forming the basis from which inspection and monitoring strategies are developed. This paper describes the evolving culture at this mine site and the steps that are being taking to allow uptake monitoring technology solutions and create a data-informed operation.
