The document divides operations into six levels, from zero (entirely manual) to five (fully autonomous), and assists in the preparation of a business case for autonomous mining, depending on level and needs.
Santiago Urdinola, head of private firm Minesa and former president of the Colombian Mining Association, made the comment during a meeting about the company’s application for an environmental licence a large underground gold project.
France’s environment minister is expected to announce in June the government’s official position on both Norgold and Columbus Gold's proposed open-pit mine and a precious metal industry in French Guiana.