Agnico Eagle’s Digital Transformation
Journey
Agnico Eagle is proud to be a partner of choice within the global
Mining industry – a sustainability leader committed to ensuring
Every ounce of gold we produce is mined safely and responsibly.
As we continue to build our world-class business, we must also
balance these commitments with market demands and stringent
production targets.
Raymond Yip, Agnico Eagle’s Vice
President of Digital Transformation says, "Technology and data are
at the forefront of the change to increase productivity,
By adopting an innovative
mindset, we are able to maintain our competitive edge, share best
practices, build synergies, and be proactive in maintaining our
production and sustainability standards.”
Digital Transformation
Team
The key, Raymond says, is to transform
the way we gather and use information so that we get the right
information to the right people at the right time. This will allow
us to make data-driven decisions for our people, our business, and
the environment. Agnico Eagle’s new Digital Transformation team is
working to make that happen.
The team combines the talents of
employees across various disciplines such as engineering, geology,
metallurgy, Information Technology/Operational Technology, as well
as subject matter experts, and has worked to establish the company’s
first Monitoring Operations Centre (MOC) in the Abitibi region,
which is the foundation of Agnico Eagle’s digital transformation
journey.
The team is charged with adopting and
implementing the latest technologies, such as artificial
intelligence and machine learning, to analyze past data patterns and
trends to predict future behavior. Raymond says, "We expect to apply
these digital tools to all areas of the business. This journey is a
big leap forward into the future. It’s about transforming the way we
work to ultimately bring value to the business."
Monitoring Operations
Center
The first Monitoring Operation Centre
(MOC) was launched in summer 2023 at the Preissac office (CSD) for
the Abitibi region. The centre allows us to make integrated business
Decisions are made at both the operational and centralized levels.
enable us to monitor our entire value chain, respond quickly to
site-level problems, and maintain operational excellence.
"Right
Now, we can’t monitor every aspect of our operations and production
environment,” says Sébastien Laflamme, Advisor, Digital
Transformation. The MOC – with the latest digital technology – will
give us that in-depth monitoring capacity. It will bring everyone
together in one centre and enhance their ability to make more
It will allow the team to make informed and integrated decisions.
For example, to ask a question such as, ‘If we use fewer explosives at
the mine face, does the crusher need more energy to break the ore?’
In other words, what is the impact of my decision on your
department?"
Agnico Eagle’s Digital Transformation
Journey
The MOC provides additional tools and monitoring functions,
which will allow employees to monitor all aspects of a
machine and make the entire production process more
stable. It will provide a more accurate, real-time
overview of what is happening on and beneath the
Right now, control room employees can only
react when an alarm or sensor trips, or when a green
The light turns to red, which is often too late.
digital monitoring capacity, they’ll be able to see if
there’s an underlying problem or deviation – for example
a vibration issue – which could create a failure in the
future if it’s not addressed immediately. By proactively
Dealing with these issues, Agnico Eagle can avoid
damaged equipment, costly production delays, a safety
issue or even an environmental disaster.
Establishing Regional MOCs
Working
closely with the LaRonde team, new job roles and functions have been
identified and defined to accelerate the concept. The first
Full-time employees are now working out of the MOC, with additional
job functions such as reliability and mine planning transferring
from the mine site to the centre in the coming months. Teleremote
operations will also slowly transition to the centre, furthering our
desire to improve safety and minimize exposure of our workers.
Take a deeper look into Agnico
Eagle’s first MOC. Hear from people like Nancy Guay VP,
Technology Optimization and Innovation and Christian
Goulet, General Manager, LaRonde Complex, on how our MOC
will keep Agnico Eagle at the forefront of the digital
transformation and a leader in the gold industry.
With the first regional MOC having
has been established for the Abitibi region, the Digital
Transformation team will replicate the model for other regions
where Agnico Eagle operates. The team is currently working with
our Ontario region to develop a second MOC at Detour Lake Mine,
with a target to have it established in 2024.
Raymond comments, “While these initiatives are about technology,
my mind this is really a change management endeavour. We’ll need the
support of our people to make it a success. The centre exists
to give our people the tools and information they need to make
better decisions for our workplace, and for our company.”
Synergies, Savings
& Sustainability:
Agnico Eagle’s digital transformation
The journey is expected to uncover synergies between our
global operations,
A team in Australia,
for example, could help it
counterpart in Quebec analyze and solve a problem by
sharing best practices,
without ever leaving the country. Not only will this
digital transformation
improve our decision making, but it will also provide a
stronger foundation for
Agnico Eagle’s financial and environment, sustainability
and Governance (ESG)
reporting. In the marketplace, the competitive advantage
will go to the company
that can accurately report on its carbon footprint and
reductions, and its plans
to achieve carbon neutrality along its entire value
chain.