Newmont Australia has signed an agreement with Jevons Robotics to deploy an automated pre-split loading robotic system designed to remove personnel from high-risk highwall mining operations.
The partnership centers on Jevons' ARTEV1000 platform, a rugged, battery-electric robotic solution purpose-built for drill-and-blast pre-split loading in highwall environments. The deployment marks a strategic shift for one of the world's largest gold producers: framing automation primarily as a risk-mitigation tool rather than a productivity play.
"This is about fundamentally changing how we approach highwall safety," said Todd Peate, CEO of Jevons Robotics, in a statement confirming the agreement. "Pre-split blast patterns require personnel to work in tight, unstable conditions near the highwall face. Our system removes that exposure entirely."
The Technology
The ARTEV1000 integrates payload extension hardware and explosives-handling modules with pre-engineered interfaces between the robot, explosive containers, and blast-hole loading tools. Remote operation keeps shotfirers and offsiders away from highwall toes and crest edges during loading operations: segregating drill-and-blast work into a fully mechanized, remotely operated process.
Pre-split blast patterns, characterized by tight burden and spacing, create elevated exposure risks for ground crews. Workers must position themselves near unstable rock faces to manually load explosive charges into closely spaced blast holes. The process is labor-intensive and inherently hazardous, particularly in open-pit operations where geotechnical conditions can shift rapidly.
Jevons' solution automates that loading sequence. The ARTEV1000 navigates to each hole, positions the loading tool, and charges the pattern without direct human involvement. Operators control the system from a safe distance, monitoring progress via onboard sensors and cameras.
The battery-electric design eliminates diesel emissions in the immediate work area, a secondary benefit that aligns with broader industry pushes toward electrification and emissions reduction.
Why Newmont Moved Now
Newmont's decision to deploy the technology reflects mounting pressure on mining operators to reduce high-consequence incidents. Highwall activities remain one of the most dangerous phases of surface mining, with rockfalls, blast misfires, and unstable ground conditions creating persistent risks.
By automating pre-split loading, Newmont materially reduces exposure hours for workers near unstable faces and blast lines. The company is effectively taking personnel out of the hazard zone during one of the most critical: and dangerous: stages of the mining cycle.
That risk calculus is driving adoption faster than pure productivity arguments. While automated systems can improve cycle times and consistency, the immediate value proposition for operators like Newmont is straightforward: fewer people near the rock face means fewer opportunities for something to go wrong.
Industry Context
This represents Jevons Robotics' second commercial deployment of the ARTEV1000 platform. The company previously deployed the technology with Orica, the global explosives supplier, in a proof-of-concept trial that validated the system's ability to integrate with existing blast-and-drill workflows.
The Newmont agreement strengthens Jevons' positioning when bidding into other Tier 1 operators, who typically require proof-of-concept in comparable geotechnical and regulatory settings. A reference deployment with a major like Newmont Australia carries weight in an industry that remains cautious about unproven technology in safety-critical applications.
The partnership also signals a broader shift in how mining operators are evaluating robotics. Early automation pitches centered on productivity gains and cost reduction. But as safety regulations tighten and the industry faces increased scrutiny over workplace fatalities, the narrative is shifting toward risk control.
Automation, in this context, becomes a strategic imperative rather than a nice-to-have efficiency play. Removing personnel from high-risk zones addresses regulatory pressure, reduces insurance exposure, and improves the operator's social license to operate: particularly in jurisdictions with stringent safety oversight.
What Comes Next
Jevons Robotics has not disclosed the scale or timeline of the Newmont deployment, but industry analysts expect the rollout to begin in the first half of 2026. The company is also fielding inquiries from other large-scale operators looking to replicate the Newmont model.
The technology is modular, meaning it can be adapted to different highwall configurations and blast patterns. That flexibility is critical in an industry where site-specific conditions vary widely. A solution that works in Western Australia may require modification to function effectively in Nevada or Chile.
For Newmont, the deployment is part of a broader automation strategy that includes autonomous haul trucks, remote drilling systems, and digital mine planning tools. The company has publicly committed to reducing its injury frequency rate, and automated pre-split loading fits squarely into that mandate.
The partnership also positions Jevons Robotics as a credible alternative to larger automation providers who have historically dominated the mine-site robotics market. By focusing on a specific, high-risk task: pre-split loading: Jevons has carved out a niche that larger competitors have largely overlooked.
Whether that niche scales into a broader automation portfolio remains to be seen. But for now, the company has a reference deployment with one of the world's largest gold producers, a proven technology platform, and a market that's increasingly willing to pay for risk reduction.
That's a better position than most robotics startups find themselves in.
