Application of Discrete Event Simulation in Mine Production Forecast

Authors

  • Felix Adaania Kaba Newmont Golden Ridge Limited, Akyem Ghana.
  • Victor Amoako Temeng University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana.
  • Peter Arroja Eshun University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana.

Keywords:

Stochastic, Simulation, Deterministic, Production Forecast

Abstract

Mine production forecast is pertinent to mining as it serves production goals for a production period. Perseus Mining Ghana Limited (PMGL), Ayanfuri, deterministically forecasts mine production which sometimes result in significant variation from the actual production. This paper developed an innovative stochastic discrete event simulation model to predict production for two excavators at a pit in PMGL site using Arena® Software. Time and motion studies of the shovel-truck system were conducted to build the stochastic model and production was predicted for four weeks. The results showed a total average production of 210 414.86 BCM ± 3 301.59 BCM at 95% confidence interval. The total average production reflected a variance of 2.34% from the actual production of 215 341 BCM. The deviation was low as compared to the deterministic planned production variance which was 5.44%.

Author Biographies

Felix Adaania Kaba, Newmont Golden Ridge Limited, Akyem Ghana.

Kaba Felix Adaania is a mine planning engineer at Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd, Akyem. He obtained his  BSc in Mining Engineering degree from the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana in 2014. He is a member of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE). Felix research interest lies in mine planning and design, modelling and simulation of mining systems.


 

Victor Amoako Temeng, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana.

Victor Amoako Temeng is an Associate Professor in Mining Engineering at the University of Mines and Technology(UMaT), Tarkwa. He obtained his BSc (Hons.) and Postgraduate Diploma in Mining Engineering degrees from UMaT. He holds MSc degree from the University of Zambia and PhD degree from the Michigan Technological University. He is a member of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (MSME) and a member of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE). His areasof specialisation include Operations Research, Materials Handling and Computer Applications.

Peter Arroja Eshun, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana.

Peter Arroja Eshun is an Associate Professor in Mining Engineering at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa. He obtained his BSc (Hon), Postgraduate Diploma (PgD), MPhil and PhD degrees from the University of Mines and Technology in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2011 respectively. He has been a lecturer at the Mining Engineering Department of UMaT since 2002. He lectures in Computer Applications, Alluvial and Ocean Mining, Mine Management, Mineral Economics, and Mineral Project Evaluation. His main research areas include mine finance and economic evaluation, socio-economic impact assessment and small scale mining.

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Published

2016-12-19