Epiroc Enhances Underground Drilling Precision with COPROD System

The COPROD for Simba solution combines high penetration rates, digital navigation and reduced deviation to improve underground drilling accuracy and cost efficiency in complex sublevel stoping operations.  www.epiroc.com In underground hard-rock mining—particularly copper, gold and silver extraction using sublevel stoping—drilling precision directly affects dilution, explosive consumption and overall production cost. At Pucobre’s underground mine near Copiapó in northern Chile, Epiroc’s COPROD for Simba E70 S rock drilling system is being deployed to address these challenges as the operation moves into deeper, more complex ore bodies. Precision drilling in deeper, more complex geology After more than three decades of operation and approximately seven kilometers of tunnel development, Pucobre is mining smaller and less accessible deposits at greater depth. These conditions require improved drilling accuracy and higher productivity to offset rising operational costs, which have increased by around 20% over the past five years due to inflation and additional requirements for rock reinforcement, ventilation and water management. The COPROD for Simba solution integrates Epiroc’s Total Station digital navigation system, enabling precise rig positioning and execution of digital drilling plans. According to operational data from the site: Hole deviation has been reduced from 8–10% to approximately 3%. Average penetration rates exceed 1 meter per minute. High-quality holes of up to 50 meters are achieved. Dilution has decreased to around 5%. Burden has increased by 20% without negatively affecting fragmentation. Lower dilution reduces the volume of waste rock handled, while improved burden control decreases explosive consumption and supports more consistent fragmentation. For underground sublevel stoping operations, this combination directly influences cost per ton and downstream material handling efficiency. Integration of digital navigation and planning A key factor behind the improved drilling performance is the transition from manual planning methods to digitally integrated workflows. The COPROD system operates in combination with Epiroc’s planning solutions and control center environment (COM), where mine planning, equipment data and task execution are monitored in real time. Telematics transmit machine data to surface control centers, enabling: Faster drill plan updates Improved scheduling accuracy Real-time production monitoring Reduced manual data handling Planning cycles that previously required weeks using spreadsheet-based tools have been reduced to days. This shift supports faster adaptation to changing geological conditions and operational requirements. High penetration with controlled deviation The COPROD system combines top hammer and down-the-hole drilling principles, designed to maintain straightness over long hole lengths while achieving high penetration rates. In practice, the improved straightness has enabled better blast control and more uniform fragmentation, reducing oversized boulders and improving mucking efficiency. For operations transitioning to deeper mining levels, such accuracy becomes increasingly critical as geological variability increases and tolerance margins narrow. Supporting cost control and mine life extension Pucobre reached its production target of 450,000 metric tons per month following earlier fleet modernization initiatives, including the adoption of higher-capacity haul trucks. However, the focus has shifted toward controlling operating costs and maintaining long-term competitiveness. By improving drilling accuracy, reducing dilution and optimizing explosive usage, the COPROD implementation contributes to: Lower cost per drilled meter Reduced secondary breakage Improved resource recovery Enhanced selectivity in smaller ore bodies According to site management, the cumulative effect of these technologies could extend the operational life of the mine by more than 20 years by making lower-grade or smaller deposits economically viable. Preparing for automation and teleremote operations The latest drilling rigs installed at the site are autonomy-ready. Adjacent to the control center, new teleremote operation panels have been prepared for future deployment. While automation introduces additional training and operational challenges, the digital infrastructure established through the COPROD integration lays the foundation for: Remote drilling supervision Gradual implementation of autonomous drilling cycles Improved safety through reduced personnel exposure underground Human operators remain essential for maintenance and oversight, but the long-term roadmap includes increased automation of selected functions to further improve productivity and safety. Partnership-driven deployment The collaboration between Epiroc and Pucobre began with technology testing in 2022 and has since resulted in orders for three new Simba E70S COPROD rigs and an Easer slot raise d