Autonomous Trucks
The stronger currency means BHP’s iron ore division will probably report unit costs for the year higher than the forecast maximum of $US14 a tonne. Roy Hill iron ore chief Barry Fitzgerald said his mining fleet would be entirely autonomous by 2023 and the company had sought to redeploy all workers whose roles were taken by autonomous technology. AdvertisementRio Tinto’s Pilbara mines managing director, Matthew Holcz, said Rio had also increased its iron ore workforce despite the greater use of automation. He said interoperability would be crucial if medium and small-sized miners were to adopt the autonomous technology that is now the preserve of the biggest miners. “I think we do need to own it.”The benchmark price for iron ore, measured by S & P Global Platts, was $US191.65 a tonne on Tuesday night.