Coal Mining Companies Turning to Gemcom Minex in Asia Pacific
Tuesday, August 26th 2008
Gemcom Software International Inc., the largest global supplier of specialised mining productivity solutions, today provided an update on growing Gemcom Minex(TM) sales momentum in Asia Pacific. Strong demand for the software is being fuelled by booming commodity demand and mining companies seeking improved tools for geology and mine planning.
Minex is a comprehensive geological modelling and mine planning tool for coal and other stratified deposits such as lignite, phosphate, bauxite, iron ore, and platinum. Developed in partnership with the mining industry, the software is employed by exploration and mining companies, including the world’s largest operators. It is becoming the modelling and planning package of choice for coal mining operations.
“It’s not just newly minted mining operations and exploration ventures that are adopting Minex, but significant, long-standing players in the region,” said Jon Barber, Gemcom’s vice president of Minex. “Well-established operations that have been using a competing package or software developed for hard rock operations are turning to Minex to replace or supplement software that lacks needed functionality. Minex offers more comprehensive, deposit (coal) specific functionality and easily interfaces with other business and technical software.”
Minex is not converted hard rock mining software but a fully integrated system designed by mining professionals to deal with the specific challenges posed by stratified deposits. It is especially useful for developing accurate resource calculations in areas with complex geology including reverse and normal faults. With features like pit optimisation and scheduling built-in, it provides support for key mining companies with both strategic and tactical functions such as material movement that can significantly impact efficiency and profits.
“Minex is the only mining software product that can provide all the tools we need for geological modelling, strategic planning and mine planning in one package,” said Joshua Cochrane, technical manager for Straits Asia Resources Ltd. “We have adopted Minex both at a corporate level and site level, and are implementing at the current time with the assistance of Gemcom support both locally in Indonesia and from Australia.”
With coal mining activity accelerating in response to high commodity prices, Gemcom has recently sold Minex to a number of leading coal miners with operations in Indonesia and elsewhere in Asia Pacific including:
– Banpu Public Company Ltd – Regent Pacific Group Ltd – Straits Asia Resources Ltd – PT Arutmin Indonesia
– PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), an Indonesian state-owned company
Indonesia is the world’s largest exporter of thermal coal, thanks in part to its strategic location for shipping coal to significant users throughout the region including China and Japan.
When mining companies seek to increase mine productivity, they turn to Gemcom for technology and services. The Company is home to world-renowned mining solutions like GEMS, Surpac, Minex, Whittle, and InSite and to industry thought-leaders who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in mining. Established in 1985, Gemcom has a global reach delivering comprehensive solutions in all major mining centres in more than 90 countries. Every major mining company, including BHP Billiton, Codelco, De Beers, Newmont and Vale is a Gemcom client. Through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, the Company has become the largest global supplier of specialised mining productivity solutions. For more information, visit www.gemcomsoftware.com.
