Vale Canada Limited

Statement of Work & Ore Body Study
2022
Mining

BESTECH was tasked by Vale to create a Statement of Work (SoW) for a Front-End Loading 2 (FEL-2) study at Coleman Mine’s Lower 170 ore body (170OB).

Vale sought assistance optimizing the productivity at Coleman Mine’s Lower 170 ore body (170OB) and reducing the amount of high-grade ore left behind upon mine closure. BESTECH was engaged to create a Statement of Work (SoW) for a Front-End Loading 2 (FEL-2) study.

SCOPE

The FEL 2 project was strategically designed to transition mining methodologies to minimize seismic hazards and enhance safety for personnel and infrastructure. This was part of a broader effort to better adapt to bulk mining methods to manage geotechnical stresses.

BESTECH developed detailed scopes of work across several critical areas, including ventilation, which incorporated cooling studies, power and electrification with high-level battery electric vehicle (BEV) designs, and geotechnical analysis.

Additional areas covered in the SoW included sandfill operations and comprehensive hazard identification and risk assessment. Each component of the SoW was structured to provide a robust framework for the upcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) process, ensuring all necessary engineering and design services were comprehensively covered.

OUTCOME

The SoW provided Vale with a detailed and actionable plan for the RFP stage of the FEL-2 engineering process. This strategic groundwork aims to extend the mine’s operational life and enhance its economic viability and safety standards.