The Nammuldi mine is an iron ore mine located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, 60 kilometres north-west of Tom Price.
The mine is fully owned and operated by Rio Tinto Iron Ore and is one of twelve iron ore mines the company operates in the Pilbara.
The first autonomous haul truck has arrived on site at Nammuldi below water table. Nammuldi is Rio Tinto’s second deployment of autonomous trucks to a fully operational autonomous pit. The autonomous haul trucks will be used to move high and low grade ore and waste, ensuring their involvement in all production related activities.
According to Rio Tinto, the application of the autonomous haulage system (AHS) at Nammuldi below water table is an important milestone in achieving their “Mine of the Future” strategy, as it allows the safety and efficiency benefits identified at West Angelas and Yandicoogina to soon have wider application, with increased benefits expected. Training for site crew at Nammuldi below water table is due to begin in October and the new accommodation village is due for completion in December.
Marandoo Mine Phase 2 (MMP2) is also a below water table (BWT) project. The above water table (AWT) ore is nearly depleted and is dependent on MMP2 construction works to ensure continuity with mining operations.
Mining the BWT ore has commenced in some pockets of the mine.
The project consists of an extensive dewatering program, agricultural section to assist with water usage, new wet ore processing plant, new mine infrastructure including workshop and warehouse and buildings and a new mine village.
Nummuldi is the sister project to MMP2 which is being managed by Lycopodium Minerals.