Thiess has partnered with Norton Gold Fields and EACON Mining Technology to launch a tripartite partnership to deploy autonomous haulage systems through retrofit technology. The project will take place at Norton Gold Fields’ open-pit gold mines in Western Australia.
“By adopting EACON’s autonomous truck technology, we aim to address the shortage of skilled drivers, reduce our operating costs, and enhance on-site safety,” said Wei Lin, CEO of Norton Gold Fields. “More importantly, this technology will enable us to mine low-grade resources that were previously out of reach – supporting community development, job creation, and long-term value.”
The rollout will proceed in two phases. In the initial stage, EACON will deploy its autonomy solution on two of Thiess’ Komatsu HD1500 trucks operating within Norton Gold Fields’ mining boundary. This phase will focus on validating both the Drive-by-Wire system and autonomous functionality under real-world mining conditions.
In the second phase, the project will scale to a fully autonomous haulage fleet operating within an active production pit, integrating seamlessly into day-to-day mining operations. The initial phase is scheduled to commence in the coming months, with full production trials targeted for early 2026.
Source: ThiesTHEISS-s