Hexagon and Minera San Cristóbal S.A. deploy HxGN MineOperate OP Pro & HxGN MineProtect CAS & OAS in Bolivia

Tucson, AZ

Hexagon’s Mining division has deployed a fleet management and safety implementation project with Minera San Cristóbal S.A. As part of this project, Hexagon deployed 65 HxGN MineOperate OP Pro systems, nearly 40 HxGN MineProtect Collision Avoidance Systems (CAS), and 30 HxGN MineProtect Operator Alertness Systems (OAS) to the San Cristóbal open pit mine operations in Lipez, Potosí Department, Bolivia. 

The San Cristóbal mine, one of the largest zinc, lead, and silver deposits in the world, features low grade mineralization in vast volume. The mine produces zinc-silver and lead-silver concentrated minerals, and is currently the largest mining operation in Bolivia's history. It also boasts the title of the sixth largest producer of zinc in the world and the fourth largest producer of silver in the world. 

Minera San Cristóbal is familiar with Hexagon’s Mining division’s solutions, as it already utilizes HxGN MinePlan’s Engineering and Geoscience suites for 3D geological modeling, mine design, and production planning at the San Cristóbal mine. Deployment of HxGN MineOperate and MineProtect solutions was completed in the second quarter of 2023. 

“We pride ourselves on carrying out our operations with the use of state-of-the-art technology like Hexagon’s mining solutions,” Luis Escamilla, Mine Manager of Minera San Cristóbal S.A, said. “Alongside the qualifications of our workers, we put a strict focus on health and safety, the preservation of the environment, and the sustainable development of communities.” 

“We are excited to expand our relationship with Minera San Cristóbal and we appreciate that they are including their workers’ safety in their digital transformation journey,” said Ricardo Gutierrez, Sr. Managing Director of EMEA & previous General Manager of Mexico for Hexagon’s Mining division. “The implementation of our fleet management system will allow insight into valuable data they have been wanting so to gain operational efficiencies, including the ability to visualize ore and waste polygons, as well as dig lines to truly see mining progress.”   

MineOperate OP Pro offers open pit mines high-precision guidance for dozers, drills, and loading equipment, and low-precision guidance for haul trucks, primary vehicles, and auxiliary equipment. OP Pro improves bench elevations, reduces dilution, and decreases rework to improve site safety, efficiency, and profitability. OP Pro was installed on front-end loaders, hydraulic shovels, drills, haul trucks, primary vehicles, and auxiliary equipment. 

Hexagon’s Collision Avoidance Solution is being deployed on haul trucks to reduce speed-related incidents, and on hydraulic shovels and bulldozers to reduce the number of incidents between them. It offers protection to mining vehicle operators, vehicles, and assets via a smart antenna and an unobtrusive cabin display unit. The system reduces the risk of collisions by alerting vehicle operators to equipment and vehicles up to 500 meters away without a direct line of sight. 

The MineProtect Operator Alertness System (OAS) is an integrated fatigue and distraction management solution that helps keep operators of heavy and light vehicles safer by alerting them to microsleep, fatigue, or distraction events. Both the CAS and OAS systems will help keep drivers and operators safer while working in the mine. 

Learn more about HxGN MineOperate.

Learn more about HxGN MineProtect.