Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.’s Hishikari mine is the first Japanese underground mine utilizing automated loading technology from Sandvik. AutoMine will help enable increased productivity, improved safety and better cost control, while bringing digital transformation of the mining process closer and increasing operational transparency.
The Hishikari mine, located in northern Kagoshima Prefecture, boasts a high grade of around 20 grams of gold per tonne of ore and has been producing gold steadily since 1985. Hishikari is the only gold mine in Japan that still operates on a commercial scale today. The mine, which commissioned AutoMine Lite on a Toro™ LH307 underground loader in December 2022 to operate in its small cross-section tunnels, will utilize the system in production areas to enhance safety, accelerate underground efficiency and improve productivity.