Thiess, Norton Gold Fields (NGF) and EACON Mining Technology have officially launched a landmark trial of autonomous haulage technology in Australia.
The formal partnership agreement was signed during a ceremony in Melbourne, attended by senior executives.
“This ceremony represents more than the signing of an agreement,” EACON Mining Australia chief operating officer Elaine Jin said.
“It reflects a shared commitment to redefining what’s possible in mining through innovation and collaboration. Together, we’re laying the foundation for a safer, smarter, and more sustainable future.”
The project will be trialled at NGF’s open pit gold mines in Western Australia, which are wholly owned by global miner Zijin Mining.
It will be rolled out in two phases, starting with EACON’s autonomy solution being retrofitted to two Komatsu HD1500 trucks to validate performance under real-world conditions.
The second phase, set to begin in 2026, will see a fully autonomous fleet operating in an active production pit.
“This project is a key step in bringing smart mining to our overseas operations,” Zijin overseas operations department executive general manager Jiansheng Liao.
“We believe that, through close collaboration, autonomous technology will deliver impactful results at Norton Gold Fields and help drive Zijin’s global push for intelligent mining.”
Thiess group executive autonomy and assets Ryan Kirkwood highlighted EACON’s ORCASTRA platform as a stand out.
“EACON’s OEM-agnostic platform, scalability, and demonstrated results were key to moving this collaboration forward,” he said.
“Their technology, combined with Thiess’ 90 years of owning and maintaining mining assets across the world, provides the flexibility and proven experience needed to deliver tailored autonomy solutions across diverse mining environments.”
With over 20 global locations, ORCASTRA will now be put to the test in one of Australia’s most established mining jurisdictions.
The platform is a comprehensive suit that integrates data-driven decision-making, situational awareness, and real-time risk management to enable safe, efficient operations in challenging mining environments.
Thiess and EACON started its partnership in September, signing a memorandum of understanding to deliver OEM-agnostic autonomous technology and advance decarbonisation in the mining industry.
NGF chief executive officer Wei Lin said the technology would help address driver shortages, reduce costs, and unlock lower-grade ore.
“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,” Lin said.
“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.”