The BHP-Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has been recognised with two awards at the 2022 Queensland Mining Awards.
BMA’s Smart Transformation (ST) Project won the Community Initiative Award, while its Process Area Set Point Optimisation (PASPO), an innovative machine learning application developed by the Coal Digital Factory and Integrated Remote Operations Centre (IROC) teams, won the Innovation Miner Award.
ST works to future-proof the towns of Dysart and Moranbah, with local community members driving the project through the Smart Transformation Advisory Councils (STACs). BMA has supported the project since 2019, through both active participation and financial support for key childcare, digital connectivity, and community skills and training.
In accepting the award, STAC Moranbah member, Carolyn Fritz, said being on the Council had been a great experience.
“It’s an opportunity to bring ideas to the table and really be involved with planning for the future for our towns,” Ms Fritz said.
“I’m grateful for the chance to be doing this important work, so I’d also like to thank BMA for instigating the Smart Transformation Project, because it’s made a huge difference to us as a community, already.”
BMA’s representative on the STAC, General Manager of Goonyella Riverside Mine, Sean Milfull, said the award was a reflection of all the hard work undertaken by community members coming together to create a positive future for the community.
“Thank you to our STAC members for their passion and drive to achieve tremendous results that will have a big impact for future generations in Moranbah and Dysart,” Mr Milfull said.
Digital Product Manager, Amal Khoury, accepted the Innovation award for PASPO on the behalf of the Coal Digital Factory and BMA IROC teams.
“It was great to see the team’s efforts recognised with this award. Since inception in 2020, this machine learning application has exceeded expectations and return on investment. Not only does it deliver industry leading metallurgical coal blend compliance performance, it has generated 385,00 tonnes of additional product,” Mr Khoury said.
