Thiess, Norton Gold Fields and EACON launch autonomy trial in Australia
Thiess, Norton Gold Fields, and EACON Mining Technology have officially launched a groundbreaking tripartite partnership to deploy autonomous haulage technology in Australia. The formal agreement was signed during a ceremony held in Melbourne, witnessed by senior executives including Hongfu Lin, Executive Vice President of Zijin Mining, David Greig, Group Executive – Australia West of Thiess, Ryan Kirkwood, Group Executive – Assets & Autonomy of Thiess , and Lei Zhang, Chairman and Co-founder of EACON.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the Australian mining sector, advancing the deployment of OEM-agnostic autonomous haulage systems through retrofit technology. By integrating EACON’s autonomy solution into Thiess and Norton Gold Fields’ mining trucks, the project reflects a shared ambition to enhance safety, productivity, and sustainability across the industry.
The project will take place at Norton Gold Fields’ open-pit gold mines in Western Australia. NGF, a wholly owned subsidiary of global mining group Zijin Mining, is playing a key role in the group’s broader strategy to introduce smart and sustainable technologies across its international portfolio.
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.
“This ceremony represents more than the signing of an agreement,” said Elaine Jin, COO of EACON Mining Australia. “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 initiative aligns with Zijin Mining’s global pursuit of intelligent mining. Speaking at the ceremony, Jiansheng Liao, Executive General Manager of Zijin’s Overseas Operations Department, remarked: “This project is a key step in bringing smart mining to our overseas operations. 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.”
For Norton Gold Fields, the project goes beyond operational efficiency. It’s about unlocking the potential of previously uneconomical resources and contributing to local economic growth. “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.”
For Thiess, this initiative builds upon the strategic partnership announced with EACON at MINExpo 2024. With Thiess managing, operating and maintaining one of the world’s largest and most diverse mining fleets, the global mining services provider keenly understands firsthand the assets and maintenance issues its clients face. This initiative is another step towards Thiess’ vision of harnessing the power of people and technology to drive sustainable change, supporting the mining industy’s evolving operational needs.
“EACON’s OEM-agnostic platform, scalability, and demonstrated results were key to moving this collaboration forward,” said Ryan Kirkwood, Group Executive – Autonomy & Assets at Thiess. “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.”
At the heart of the project is EACON’s autonomous haulage system, ORCASTRA®. Already deployed across more than 1,000 trucks at over 20 global sites, ORCASTRA® supports more than 10 vehicle models from seven OEMs. The system integrates data-driven decision-making, situational awareness, and real-time risk management to enable safe, efficient operations in challenging mining environments.
The upcoming trial at Norton Gold Fields’ site will serve as a pivotal showcase for the technology’s adaptability and performance in Australia. By uniting EACON’s technical innovation with Thiess and NGF’s operational excellence, EACON says the collaboration sets a new benchmark for autonomy in open-pit mining.
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