MTS Projects: Mining Technology Renewal & Tender Management

Project Overview

• Location: Papua New Guinea, Oceania

• Operation Type: Mature Open-Pit (Surface) and Underground Mine

• Project Scope: Strategic selection and tender management for a site-wide operational technology (OT) renewal.

• Timeline: 2026

The Challenge: Selecting the Right Tech for a Mature Operation

A long-established mining operation in Papua New Guinea faced a critical turning point: their existing operational technology (OT) including the Fleet Management Systems (FMS) had reached "end-of-life." With disparate systems managing surface and underground operations, the site struggled with:

• Missed Optimisation Opportunities: Missing the right technology, they were unable to measure and manage operational optimisation challenges.

• Data Silos: Incompatibility between surface haulage data and underground production tracking.

• High Maintenance Costs: Outdated hardware and software were increasingly expensive to maintain and lacked modern vendor support.

• Hampered by Age: Legacy systems were unable to support modern digital transformation goals, such as automated reporting or real-time short-interval control.

The Solution: A Unified Technology Selection Process

MTS was engaged to lead a comprehensive technology renewal tender for both surface and underground operations. Our methodology focused on aligning technical requirements with the specific operational realities of a mature site.

1. Requirements Mapping (Surface & Underground)

Rather than a "one-size-fits-all" procurement, we conducted deep-dive site assessments to define unique requirements for:

• Surface: Optimising haulage cycles, dilution management, payload management, and fuel efficiency.

• Underground: Enhancing personnel tracking, equipment utilisation, and production tracking.

• Maintenance: Asset health, ERP systems integration and KPI tracking.

A requirements template for surface and underground operations was subsequently developed; enabling prospective vendors to provide a standardised response (as well as reducing the chance of any confusion)

2. Managed RFI/RFQ Process

MTS acted as a technical assessor, managing the Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Quote (RFQ) stages. We evaluated global vendors based on a number of factors include:

• System Suitability: Suitability of the systems in terms of maturity, available functionality and ease of use for operators.

• Supportability: How well the vendor would be able to support the installations once they went into production.

• Change Management & Training: Assessing which vendors offered the best path for operator and end user training and as well as for site adoption.

• Cost of Implementation and Ownership: CAPEX and longer term OPEX compared.

3. Strategic Tender Evaluation

We provided the mine’s leadership with a data-driven comparison of shortlisted vendors. This included a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis, weighing initial capital expenditure (CAPEX) against long-term operational savings (OPEX) as well as an analysis (scoring) of technical capabilities.

The Result: A Future-Proof Technology Roadmap

Vendors were selected for the operation based on strict criteria. Key outcomes included:

• Unified Visibility: Selection of a platform that provides a "single pane of glass" view for both underground and surface fleets.

• Risk Mitigation: Ensuring the new systems are supportable, scalable for future AI-driven analytics initiatives but at the same time will add immediate value.

• Cost Efficiency: Negotiated vendor contracts that ensured high levels of support and transparent licensing costs over a 5-year horizon.

Conclusion

Successful technology renewal in mining is not just about buying the latest software; it is about ensuring that technology serves the mine plan. By focusing on operational alignment and technical rigour, MTS helped this mature mining operation secure a technological foundation that will support its next decade of production.

To understand more how we can help your operation select the right mining technology, visit our RFI/RFP page or contact us here.