Rio Tinto granted accreditation for AutoHaul
(Posted on 24/05/18)
Rio Tinto has been granted accreditation by Australia’s Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator approving the autonomous operation of trains at the group’s iron ore business in Western Australia.
The AutoHaul project continues to progress and is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2018. Rio Tinto will take a phased approach to deploying autonomous trains across the network in the lead up to full commissioning.
Once commissioned, the network will be the world’s first heavy haul, long distance autonomous rail operation, unlocking significant safety and productivity benefits for the business.
Rio Tinto’s Pilbara shipments guidance for 2018 remains between 330 and 340m tonnes (100 per cent basis). This is subject to market conditions and any weather constraints.
The AutoHaul project is focused on automating trains transporting iron ore to Rio Tinto’s port facilities in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Trains started running in autonomous mode with a driver on-board monitoring operations in the first quarter of 2017.
At the end of the first quarter of 2018, approximately 65 per cent of all train kilometres were completed in autonomous mode. More than 3 million kilometres have now been completed in this mode.
Rio Tinto operates about 200 locomotives on more than 1,700 kilometres of track in the Pilbara, transporting ore from 16 mines to four port terminals.
Latest News
MPA welcomes UK Government’s commitment to fund CCUS
(Posted on 08/10/24)The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has welcomed the Government’s pledge to fund the launch... Read more
Glencore’s Stephen Rowland elected Chair of ICA’s Board
(Posted on 08/10/24)The Board of Directors of the International Copper Association (ICA) has elected Stephen Rowland, Glencore... Read more
NGFA highlights ‘trifecta of transportation trouble’ for US agriculture
(Posted on 01/10/24)Potential disruptions to the nation’s shipping infrastructure could have a devastating effect... Read more
ADM adds non-GM capabilities in Hungary
(Posted on 01/10/24)ADM has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Vandamme Hungaria Kft and its related... Read more
Richard Holtum to become Trafigura CEO from 1 January 2025
(Posted on 25/09/24)Trafigura Group Pte Ltd has announced that Richard Holtum will become Chief Executive Officer (CEO)... Read more
Financial community visit Rio Tinto North American operations
(Posted on 25/09/24)Rio Tinto is hosting a site visit for the financial community this week to its Aluminium and Iron &... Read more
NGFA testifies on opportunities for growth in freight rail
(Posted on 19/09/24)The President and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), Mike Seyfert, has testified... Read more
Jiri Zrust appointed Trafigura Global Head of Operational Assets
(Posted on 19/09/24)Trafigura has announced the appointment of Jiri Zrust to the newly-created role of Global Head of Operational... Read more
Call for strategy to support sustainable production and use of fertilizers
(Posted on 12/09/24)The Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture has delivered its final report to the European Commission... Read more
Cargill acquires two US feed mills to strengthen production and distribution
(Posted on 08/09/24)To grow with the ag retail and large ranching/ farming segments in the western and central regions of... Read more