en.Wedoany.com Reported - AngloGold Ashanti has deployed an online Air Quality System (AQS) at the Mina Cuiabá in Sabará, Brazil. Integrated into the industrial automation ecosystem and the Operational Control Center (CCO), the system enables continuous monitoring, alarm generation, and historical data analysis of mine air quality.
Underground operations rely on forced ventilation systems to supply oxygen, promote air renewal, dilute harmful gases, and control temperature and humidity. However, traditional manual measurement methods have limitations such as low sampling frequency, difficulty in capturing transient events, and the need for personnel to enter potentially hazardous areas for on-site operations. To overcome these shortcomings, the AQS was deployed at Mina Cuiabá, with 25 fixed monitoring stations strategically installed throughout the mine. These stations continuously measure air velocity, airflow, dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperatures, relative humidity, and carbon monoxide concentration, with data communicated directly to the monitoring system at the Operational Control Center.
Based on real-time data, the Operational Control Center can promptly notify underground teams of ventilation anomalies and dispatch specialized technicians for targeted inspections. The system enhances operational safety, environmental condition traceability, and decision-making efficiency. Maintenance and mine ventilation teams can also use reports to evaluate the maintenance and operational performance of each monitoring station. This solution replaces most manual spot measurements with a continuous centralized collection system, improving the traceability of air quality conditions and the ability to detect deviations early. In terms of safety, the project reduces worker exposure risk by minimizing the need to enter potentially hazardous areas for data collection, with decisions based on online data, avoiding entry into dangerous areas without clear conditions.
AngloGold Ashanti conducts gold mining operations in the municipalities of Nova Lima, Sabará, Caeté, and Santa Bárbara in Minas Gerais. The Mina Cuiabá reaches a depth of 1,600 meters, with 330 kilometers of tunnels, producing up to 8 tons of gold annually at the plant. Approximately 1,000 workers and 150 pieces of equipment operate underground, with over 70 of these being large-scale machinery.
