Lydford Mining Acquires Machine to Improve Efficiency of Operations

Lydford Mining in Golden Grove, St. Ann, has acquired a state-of-the-art Wirtgen surface miner, a technological first for the island, to improve the efficiency of their mining operations and to ramp up the production of limestones.

The piece of equipment was purchased at a cost of US$2.4 million and is set to pioneer a less intrusive method of mining on the island.

Features of the surface miner include reducing emissions, which will augur well for the environment.

It also produces less dust as it has its own dust mitigation system and operates with reduced noise levels.

The equipment’s introduction reduces Lydford’s need to use blasting as a mining technique.

It is also energy efficient and lessens the need to crush material, which will decrease the company’s electricity consumption.

The machine was unveiled during Lydford Mining’s Founder’s Day event, which was held on Tuesday (May 28).

During the festivities, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green hailed the 32-year-old company as an “industry leader” that continues to set examples for mining, for focusing on sustainability in the sector and having the vision to “move things forward”.

“The fact that we are here today is a testament that you are not being comfortable sitting on your laurels saying that you are already in the lead, so you do not need to do more, but it is an appreciation that the world is evolving,” he said.

Mr. Green underscored the importance of the mining sector evolving and doing things differently.

“The mining sector must look at the realities that it now faces in this evolving world. Yes, people appreciate that mining is important, but they also want it to be less intrusive; they also want to reduce the nuisance levels that goes with mining. [Persons] also want to ensure that the communities who support the mining sector are in a better position because they do so,” Mr. Green emphasised.

“The only way we can do that is by investing in technology. As technology evolves, we have to ensure that we are more efficient, and more importantly, we have to invest in technology that reduces the nuisance that mining causes,” he added.

Mr. Green lauded Lydford Mining for their stellar corporate social responsibility framework, as they have in place several programmes which benefit the community of Golden Grove and its environs.

For her part, Managing Director of Lydford Mining, Jackie Hill Millington, outlined that the machine’s type of technology augurs well for the growth of the mineral industry on the island, and noted that the new machine will increase productivity.

“In the conventional mode [of mining] we typically produce one ton of material for every litre of fuel that we burn. Now this machine has increased productivity, it has moved that number to five. We will produce five tons of material for every litre of fuel [used by the machine],” she noted.

Meanwhile, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, said that the addition of the machine augurs well for the company’s productivity.

“I am happy to be here [to see] this machine because it spells productivity. As we, as a country, get to be better and better at what we do, we are clearly in a better economic position than we would have been even 10 years ago,” he highlighted.