Open Pit Mine Planning Services
We provide independent mine engineering and planning support to help open pit operations optimise value, reduce risk and deliver practical, executable plans. Our work translates geology, geotechnical inputs and business objectives into mineable designs, realistic schedules and integrated planning strategies that support better operational and strategic decisions.
From pit optimisation through to short-term planning, we support mining companies with technically robust, commercially focused solutions across the full planning horizon. Whether you need a rapid review, study support, embedded planning expertise or targeted capability uplift, we provide decision-ready outputs that can be implemented with confidence.
Strategic Mine Planning and Value Definition
Strong mine planning starts with a clear strategic framework. This stage focuses on defining the mine shape, sequencing logic, economic drivers and planning assumptions that support long-term value and provide a robust basis for downstream scheduling.
Production Scheduling Across the Planning Horizon
Once the strategic mine framework is established, the next step is to convert it into practical production schedules. This stage links long-term direction with medium-term coordination and short-term execution so that plans remain both value-focused and achievable.
Ore Flow, Material Movement and Operational Integration
A strong mine plan must also work operationally. Once the schedule is defined, the focus shifts to integrating stockpiles, blending, dumping, fleet assumptions and haulage logic so that ore flow is stable, rehandle is reduced and material movement supports the production plan.
Planning Governance, Delivery and Capability Uplift
The final stage of effective mine planning is making sure the outputs can be implemented, communicated and sustained. This means combining strong governance with practical handover, embedded support and targeted capability development for internal teams.
Strategic Mine Planning and Value Definition
Pit Optimisation and Phase Strategy
We develop pit optimisation and practical phase strategies that align technical inputs with business objectives. This includes reviewing key assumptions such as costs, recoveries, commodity prices, geotechnical constraints and mining limits, then testing optimisation outcomes and sensitivities to identify value drivers and practical planning options.
Pushback and Mineable Phase Design
Beyond optimisation outputs, we define realistic stage pits, pushbacks and mineable phase designs that can be implemented operationally. We consider bench and ramp strategy, haulage impacts, ore and waste movement, strip ratio and production capacity so the plan supports real mining conditions rather than theoretical outcomes.
Life-of-Mine Planning and Reserves Support
We support life-of-mine planning by connecting resource potential to practical mining outcomes through long-range production strategies, phase sequencing and integrated planning assumptions. This work provides a strong basis for study reporting, strategic decisions and reserve-related planning support.
Economic Evaluation and Scenario Analysis
To strengthen decision-making, we integrate economic evaluation into the planning process through NPV, cash flow and sensitivity analysis. This helps quantify trade-offs, test alternative strategies and understand how value changes under different technical or economic assumptions.
Production Scheduling Across the Planning Horizon
Long-Term Scheduling
We build long-term schedules that define the strategic production profile, phase progression and integrated value schedule over the life of mine. These schedules help align mining strategy, capital planning and operational expectations into one clear long-range framework.
Medium-Term Scheduling
Our medium-term scheduling work focuses on rolling schedules, phase advancement, waste dumping requirements and development priorities. This planning horizon is critical for translating strategy into coordinated mine plans that can be managed and updated as conditions change.
Short-Term Scheduling
At the short-term level, we support bench planning, dig sequences, equipment allocation and practical production targets. The emphasis is on executable plans that reflect current operating constraints while maintaining alignment with the broader mine strategy.
Integrated Schedule Development
We connect short-, medium- and long-term schedules into one coherent planning framework. This improves visibility between planning horizons, strengthens coordination across the mine and helps ensure that tactical decisions support long-term objectives rather than conflict with them.
Ore Flow, Material Movement and Operational Integration
Stockpiling and Blending Strategy
We design stockpile and blending strategies that support feed consistency, production flexibility and improved ore utilisation. This includes ROM and low-grade stockpiles, build and reclaim logic, grade smoothing and blending strategies aligned with plant constraints and operational priorities.
Ore Flow Planning
We integrate grade control inputs and short-term planning into a coherent ore flow strategy that supports production and quality targets. The aim is to create a practical, end-to-end material flow that works across the planning horizon and improves operational control.
Dump Strategy and Rehandle Minimisation
We incorporate dump strategy, waste placement logic and rehandle minimisation into the planning process so that waste movement is managed efficiently and downstream impacts are reduced. This helps improve schedule practicality and support smoother mine operations.
Equipment Productivity, Fleet Sizing and Haulage
We assess equipment productivity, fleet sizing and haulage profiles as part of the wider mine plan so that production schedules are grounded in realistic operating assumptions. This helps ensure that movement requirements, utilisation expectations and haulage performance are consistent with the proposed mining strategy.
Planning Governance, Delivery and Capability Uplift
Planning Governance and Control
We help strengthen planning governance through KPIs, assumptions registers, change control and clear planning frameworks. This improves transparency, supports consistency in decision-making and provides a stronger basis for reviewing, updating and delivering plans.
Implementation Support
Our support extends beyond analysis and schedule generation. We help clients implement planning outputs through templates, models, governance packs and practical handover support, ensuring the work can be embedded into day-to-day planning processes.
Embedded Planning Support
Where required, we provide embedded planner support on a remote or site-based basis. This gives clients access to practical mine planning expertise within their own planning cycle, whether for a defined project, an operational challenge or broader planning improvement.
Workshops, Coaching and Targeted Training
We provide workshops, on-the-job coaching and targeted training to strengthen internal planning capability. This knowledge transfer approach helps client teams improve planning quality, understand assumptions more clearly and build stronger execution capability over time.