Optimization of Underground Stopes Sequence Using Mathematical Modeling; (0-1) Integer Programming

Production scheduling is the most important and influential issue in open pit and underground mining design and planning. The main purpose of mine production planning is time scheduling and determination of mine activities sequencing under some technical and extraction constraints in order to achieve one of the following goals: maximizing Net Present Value (NPV), the amount of ore extraction or mine life. Underground mine planning optimization which is used to determine the sequence of stopes extraction, is difficult due to the complexity of decision making and the interaction between existing constraints. Since, mathematical programming techniques are capable for solving complex and multi-limiting problems, they can be used for optimization purposes. In this study, after reviewing previous studies on the design and planning of underground mine production, the step by step explanation of a proposed model based on Integer Programming (IP) has been addressed. In order to validate proposed model, an example of 9 stopes was considered. First, the sequence of extraction was carried out using manual design and then using extended mathematical model in GAMS/CPLEX software. The current NPV obtained by manual production scheduling was 8.211 million dollars. While, this value for mathematical model was 8.331 million dollars. In other words, NPV value in mathematical model was 1.46% higher than manual method which indicate the power of mathematical programming for solving complex problems.