At more than three kilometres underground, the ultra-deep Kidd Mine in Timmins regularly experiences ground stress, deformation, and large-scale seismic activity. That’s meant owner Glencore has had to be uniquely strategic in its approach to mineral extraction.
It means keeping workers away from those dangers while gathering information from a distance.
“The only way, really, you’re going to deal with this is by working in isolation, so we’re going to try and mine and conduct our operations remotely,” said Iain McKillip, the manager of business planning for Glencore Nickel-Zinc, of the company’s early consideration of Kidd’s conditions.
“So we had a real drive to try and explore technologies to help us do that.”
(Kidd Operations is currently owned by Glencore; however, Discovery Silver struck an agreement in early March to acquire the property.)
McKillip spoke about Glencore’s journey with remote technology — in particular, drones — as it applies to mine rescue and emergency response. He spoke during the 2026 Mining Health and Safety Conference, hosted by Workplace Safety North in Sudbury, April 15-16.
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