1000 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
addition per compartment simultaneously to optimize the
pressure oxidation (POX) process.
Safety and training were key considerations through-
out the project integration. It was essential to the project’s
success that the operations team be comfortable and trust
the system for Pueblo Viejo to gain the expected benefit
from the project. During all phases of the project the safety
of everyone involved was the top priority, both with the
Autoclave Process itself, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the justification for the Autoclave APC
Integration Project was initially based on achieving a 1%
increase in the average feed flow per autoclave, the AwaRE ®
APC system has outperformed the warranted performance
while adeptly handling disturbances stemming from
changes in the Autoclave feed. This resulted in a noteworthy
boost in the average feed flow, exceeding expectations with a
minimum increase of 2.3% (approximately 7 tph) per auto-
clave. The elevated throughput, coupled with a substantial
reduction in variability across key process parameters for
all four autoclaves, highlights the seamless integration and
success of the AwaRE ® APC system. Although a marginal
decrease in oxidation efficiency was observed, this can be
attributed to the significant increase in average feed flow,
showcasing the system’s capability to balance multiple vari-
ables to achieve optimal autoclave performance.
Successful integration was achieved through effec-
tive collaboration between Pueblo Viejo and Woodgrove,
despite challenges posed by remote integration during the
COVID-19 pandemic. It is evident that Pueblo Viejo was
able to effectively achieve their goal of increased through-
put and improved stability by integrating the AwaRE ®
APC system, contributing to operational excellence in gold
mining operations.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank John Kracy and Paul Yaroshak for thier
contibutions to this paper.
addition per compartment simultaneously to optimize the
pressure oxidation (POX) process.
Safety and training were key considerations through-
out the project integration. It was essential to the project’s
success that the operations team be comfortable and trust
the system for Pueblo Viejo to gain the expected benefit
from the project. During all phases of the project the safety
of everyone involved was the top priority, both with the
Autoclave Process itself, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the justification for the Autoclave APC
Integration Project was initially based on achieving a 1%
increase in the average feed flow per autoclave, the AwaRE ®
APC system has outperformed the warranted performance
while adeptly handling disturbances stemming from
changes in the Autoclave feed. This resulted in a noteworthy
boost in the average feed flow, exceeding expectations with a
minimum increase of 2.3% (approximately 7 tph) per auto-
clave. The elevated throughput, coupled with a substantial
reduction in variability across key process parameters for
all four autoclaves, highlights the seamless integration and
success of the AwaRE ® APC system. Although a marginal
decrease in oxidation efficiency was observed, this can be
attributed to the significant increase in average feed flow,
showcasing the system’s capability to balance multiple vari-
ables to achieve optimal autoclave performance.
Successful integration was achieved through effec-
tive collaboration between Pueblo Viejo and Woodgrove,
despite challenges posed by remote integration during the
COVID-19 pandemic. It is evident that Pueblo Viejo was
able to effectively achieve their goal of increased through-
put and improved stability by integrating the AwaRE ®
APC system, contributing to operational excellence in gold
mining operations.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank John Kracy and Paul Yaroshak for thier
contibutions to this paper.