RAMC (Resource Allocation and Mine Costing Model) Underground-Mining Cost-Equations Development

摘要

The Resource Allocation and Mine Costing Model (RAMC) is an engineering process model used to provide coal supply curves for a set of predefined coal types and producing regions. It develops mining cost estimates on the basis of equations that relate initial capital, deferred capital, and operating costs to annual production and mine depth. This report presents revised versions of the model mine cost equations used in the RAMC for the past two years. It provides a complete documentation of the latest cost equations and reflects the new mine costing approach (discussed in the following pages) incorporated in unpublished RAMC equations developed in 1980. Before the new costing methodology, developed in 1980 and adopted in 1981, the cost equations were derived on the basis of mining costs developed for a single base case model mine, which was designed to be representative of all underground mines. Adjustment factors were used to account for cost variations resulting from changes in key mining parameters. The primary purpose of the projects begun in 1980, the latest of which is documented in this report, was to improve and enhance the original mine cost equations. In developing the model mine designs, cost estimates, and final equations, it was necessary to make a number of major assumptions. Unlike real-world mine design and cost estimation in which a specific property is to be exploited, specifications (e.g., depth of cover, seam thickness, property shape) were not given, but rather had to be developed for each model mine. Thus, specifications were assumed, and the mine designs proceeded on the basis of these assumed specifications. (ERA citation 08:056859)