Cat transforming Bagdad Mine with Autonomous Haulers in Arizona
In a strategic collaboration, Caterpillar and Freeport-McMoRan Inc. have unveiled plans to automate a fleet of 33 Cat® 793 haul trucks at the Bagdad mine in Arizona.
The autonomous transformation will be driven by Cat MineStar™ Command for hauling. This pioneering initiative positions the Bagdad mine as the first U.S. copper mine set to harness a fully autonomous haulage system.
Kathleen Quirk, President of Freeport-McMoRan, commented on the development: “Our alliance with Caterpillar underscores our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance operational efficiency. This three-year conversion venture is anticipated to bolster safety protocols, streamline our fleet operations, and curtail GHG emissions through minimized idle durations. Moreover, it strategically places us to harness imminent technological leaps in electrification.”
Marking a decade of the Command for hauling system, Caterpillar’s technological prowess is evident with over 620 autonomous trucks actively operational with 15 global clients spread across three continents. These autonomous behemoths have impressively transported over 6.3 billion tonnes of material, covering a staggering distance of more than 230 million kilometres, all the while maintaining an impeccable safety record with no reported injuries.
Denise Johnson, Group President of Caterpillar Resource Industries, remarked: “Our synergy with FCX in their journey towards full automation at the Bagdad facility is a significant milestone. The Cat 793 haul truck stands as a testament to Caterpillar’s innovation, with its impeccable track record in augmenting safety, amplifying productivity, and curbing idle durations in multifaceted operations, including those in copper mines.
“Furthermore, our ongoing collaborations with Freeport and other mining giants aim to roll out avant-garde electrification solutions in line with sustainability benchmarks.”
The Bagdad mine, a porphyry copper deposit situated approximately 100 miles northwest of Phoenix, Arizona, boasts a rich blend of sulfide and oxide mineralization. The facility encompasses an expansive 85,000 ton-per-day concentrator, producing copper and molybdenum concentrates.
Moreover, its solution extraction/electrowinning (SX/EW) plant, with an annual output of 9 million pounds of copper cathode, holds the distinction of being among the longest-running SX/EW establishments globally.
