Minimum viable solutions in mining: design and risk takeaways for project teams
Reviewed by Tom Sullivan
First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
Minimum viable solutions (MVS) are being promoted by Worley’s Dr Alan Monaghan as a new way to de-risk mining projects facing technology integration, decarbonisation targets and volatile supply chains. Instead of fully defined, linear project pathways, MVS focuses on delivering smaller, testable production increments, using modular process units and staged automation rollouts to prove value before full-scale capital commitment. For geotechnical and processing teams, this implies earlier field trials, tighter feedback loops between pilots and design, and more flexible mine plans that can absorb technology and market shifts.
Technical Brief
- Monaghan frames MVS using software-style agile sprints, with short, iterative engineering and construction cycles.
- He emphasises “optionality” in plant and mine layouts, enabling rapid re-routing or bypassing of unit operations.
- Modularisation is treated as a core enabler, with skid-mounted process units designed for redeployment or resale.
- Early-stage CAPEX is deliberately capped, with later expansion tied to measured metallurgical and throughput performance.
- Monaghan links MVS to faster learning on ore variability, via small-scale, production-representative test circuits.
- Automation and digital systems are structured as plug‑in layers, avoiding hard-coding of control philosophies too early.
- Supply-chain risk is addressed by designing process modules around multiple OEM options and interchangeable components.
- For future projects, Monaghan argues MVS will shift FEL gate criteria towards demonstrated operating data rather than paper studies.
Our Take
Worley’s role in Anglo Asian Mining’s Xarxar and Garadag feasibility studies suggests that any ‘minimum viable solutions’ paradigm it promotes is already being tested on copper-gold assets moving from study to potential development.
The presence of Worley in both large civil infrastructure (Westport marine advisory) and process-industry decarbonisation projects indicates that applying minimum viable concepts could push miners to adopt more modular, multi-sector engineering standards rather than bespoke, one-off designs.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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