At the international conference Future Minerals Forum in Saudi Arabia, General Director of the Polyus company Alexey Vostokov presented a vision of what the gold extraction plants of the future will look like. The key role in them, he said, will be played by artificial intelligence.
Speaking to the forum participants, Vostokov noted that in the next ten years, every large mining enterprise could receive its own “cognitive center” based on AI. Such a system will combine data on geology, ore processing, logistics and markets in a single digital loop and analyze it in real time.
According to him, artificial intelligence will allow enterprises to gradually move towards more environmentally friendly and precise production. Algorithms will constantly make small adjustments to technological processes to improve gold recovery, while reducing energy and water consumption.
This is not about replacing people with machines. Vostokov emphasized that employees will retain a key role, but their functions will change: they will become operators and coordinators of complex intelligent systems that control production.
As an example, he cited the experience of Polyus at the Olimpiada mining and processing plant, where the Production Management Center already operates. This platform tracks all the main stages in a single mode – from drilling and blasting to ore transportation and processing. This approach reduces equipment downtime and increases overall production efficiency.
An additional area of development is the use of AI to improve safety. According to the head of the company, digital systems will be able not only to optimize processes, but also to monitor the condition of personnel, including signs of fatigue. This opens up opportunities to prevent accidents and more competently manage work shifts.
Polyus believes that introduction of artificial intelligence will become one of the key factors in the development of gold mining. Technology will make manufacturing more precise, sustainable and safe, and will give companies the tools to make quick decisions in a complex and changing environment.
Source: @nerzhavey
Image: Gold and Technology
