Normet–Codelco El Teniente automation: shotcrete and safety insights for engineers
Reviewed by Tom Sullivan
First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
Normet and Codelco have signed a five-year technology development programme to pilot autonomous and remotely operated underground mining systems at the El Teniente block cave in Chile. Initial work will centre on autonomous concrete transport and robotic shotcrete spraying, targeting safer operation in high-risk headings and more consistent ground support quality. For geotechnical and operations teams, the pilots could change how shotcrete cycles are scheduled, reduce personnel exposure in weak ground, and provide more repeatable lining thickness and coverage data.
Technical Brief
- Five-year Normet–Codelco programme formalises a structured testbed for underground automation at El Teniente.
Our Take
Normet’s work with Codelco at El Teniente in Chile sits alongside its battery‑electric deployments at Oyu Tolgoi and Somincor in our database, signalling that the company is increasingly using flagship underground mines as proving grounds for integrated automation–electrification packages.
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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