Codelco and Normet begin five-year program for autonomous mining at El Teniente

Codelco and Normet have entered into a five-year technology program to advance autonomous and remotely operated underground mining technologies at Codelco's El Teniente mine in Chile. The collaboration will concentrate on three areas: autonomous concrete transport and spraying, remotely operated scaling, and autonomous stationary breaker operations. The first pilot will utilize advanced perception systems and artificial intelligence for autonomous concrete spraying and transport.

The technologies aim to improve operational performance and process continuity while removing personnel from hazardous underground environments. As mines face challenges from seismic activity and demanding ground conditions, these methods could transform how mining processes are carried out in difficult underground settings.