MPA improving Newcrest’s Lihir operation in PNG

Mipac is contributing to the success of Newcrest’s Lihir operation in Papua New Guinea by applying MPA which uses expert process control knowledge and appropriate automation techniques to stabilise and optimise industrial processes.

It is the first time Mipac has applied MPA to a Newcrest plant and the first time MPA has been used in Papua New Guinea.

The Lihir operation is located on Niolam Island, 900 kilometres north-east of Port Moresby, within an extinct volcanic crater, the Luise Caldera, one of the largest gold deposits in the world.

Mipac’s MPA team first visited Lihir in October 2012 where they collaborated with site and corporate personnel to identify ways to improve the plant’s operations.

On returning to Brisbane, the team developed solutions to improve primary grinding and in late April, Principal Process Control Engineer Bruce Northway and Senior Systems Engineer Simon Willis travelled to site to implement and commission these solutions.

During this visit, they also reviewed the flotation and thickening areas with a view to developing further solutions to improve performance.

“Our job is to work with Newcrest to improve performance by optimising and stabilising process control in specified areas,” Mipac Products and Services Manager and Director Tony Mathison says.

‘This is an ongoing process of discovery, development, implementation and support.

“We are already seeing improvements in throughput and quality and we hope to continue to work with Newcrest to fulfil the potential of the Lihir operation.”