CQ mine prepares site for driverless truck future
Mining giant gives update on autonomous truck rollout.
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THE first fleet of autonomous trucks will be operational at BHP Mitsubishi Alliance's Goonyella Riverside mine from September.
The driverless Komatsu trucks are among 86 to be rolled out at the mine, which will become the first on Australia's east coast to introduce large scale automation.
BMA has started fitting out the trucks with the driverless technology ahead of the rollout.
Civil works around the mine - including the creation of a separate area for the new trucks - are under way.
The first fleet is due to start in September and will eventually grow to 86 trucks by 2022.
Goonyella Riverside general manager Sean Milfull said the trucks would boost safety and productivity at the mine.
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"Around 100 positions are being created as a result of autonomous haulage and we have seen a huge interest in these exciting roles," Mr Milfull said.
Last month, Moranbah resident Lisa Forbes received a permanent job as a field officer for the new autonomous haulage project.
Ms Forbes has been in the resources industry for more than 17 years, and her partner also works at BMA's Peak Downs mine.
"I thought it would be an interesting job to be a part of and with autonomous coming to Goonyella Riverside, I just really wanted to stay here and continue my future, so I decided to apply," she said.
A new automation control room is under construction and will create 40 new roles.
BMA said there had been no job losses at the mine.
The mining giant is still considering a driverless truck rollout at its Daunia Mine at Coppabella.
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