Mining Technology Renewal and Tender Management
Papua New Guinea, 2025
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: 2025
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High Maintenance Costs: Outdated hardware and software were increasingly expensive to maintain and lacked modern vendor support.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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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In 2026, MTS led a technology renewal tender for a long-established open-pit and underground mine in Papua New Guinea. Its operational technology, including the Fleet Management System, had reached end of life. MTS mapped requirements for surface, underground and maintenance, managed the RFI and RFQ stages, and gave leadership a scored comparison of the shortlisted vendors.
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MTS assessed global vendors in four areas. The first was system suitability: maturity, functionality and ease of use for operators. The second was how well each vendor could support the system once in production. The third was training and change management for site adoption. The fourth was cost, with CAPEX compared against long-term OPEX. Every vendor answered the same requirements template, so responses could be compared directly.
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A system that still runs can still cost the mine money. At one mature Papua New Guinea operation, outdated hardware and software had become expensive to maintain, and vendor support was fading. The legacy systems could not support automated reporting or real-time short-interval control. MTS helped the site choose systems that add value immediately and can scale to AI-driven analytics later.
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Because purchase price is only one part of what a system costs over a 5-year contract. For a mature mine in Papua New Guinea, MTS weighed initial capital expenditure against long-term operational savings in a total cost of ownership analysis. MTS also scored each vendor's technical capabilities. The final contracts secured high support levels and transparent licensing costs for five years.
