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Escondida Scores with Modular's IntelliMine® System Tucson, Arizona – March 28, 2003 Minera Escondida Limitada, the world's largest open pit copper mine in terms of production, has placed an order for Modular Mining's IntelliMine® integrated mine management system. The IntelliMine® system selected by Escondida consists of MasterLink™, the wireless network communications backbone; ProVision™, the high-precision GPS system for dozers, shovels, and drills; DISPATCH®, the industry standard dispatching system designed to provide automatic, optimized haul truck assignments; MineCare™, the interactive maintenance management system that allows users to access up-to-the-minute operating information over the internet; and Interfaces for mine planning, ERP, and mobile fleet systems. Escondida is located in the Atacama Desert, 170 kilometers southeast of Antofagasta Chile, approximately 3,100 meters above sea level. The mine operates in a harsh arid environment, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on a 12-hour, 4 days on and 4 days off shift schedule. This makes it crucial for onsite systems to be ruggedized and able to handle the intense pressures of constant use. Additionally Escondida has in place several existing software packages, such as mine planning and ERP systems, making it vital that any new mine management system be able to integrate and function seamlessly with those systems. The IntelliMine® system fits all these requirements. "Escondida was looking for a way to tie everything together—production, operation, payload, ERP, VIMS, and field systems all needed to work together," stated Scott Baker, General Manager of Modular's Latin American Division. "And they needed a system they could rely on. The IntelliMine® system, with its dynamic state of the art software modules for communication, dispatching and high-precision, does just that. Escondida will be able to integrate all systems with reliability, while increasing productivity and improving quality control throughout its fleet." Escondida will deploy the IntelliMine® system in 3 phases. Phase I includes deployment of three core Modular products: the MasterLink™ wireless network, including 15 MasterLink™ access nodes; the ProVision™ High-Precision GPS system including: 18 HP-GPS dozers, 15 HP-GPS shovels, 12 HP-GPS drills, and 7 HP-GPS graders; and Modular's world renown DISPATCH® system including: 93 trucks, 9 dozers, and 9 pieces of auxiliary equipment. Installation is scheduled for April 2003 with start up anticipated in June 2003. Phases II and III, which involve interfaces with the fleet and existing systems, will commence following Phase I commissioning. "Additionally, because fellow BHP Billiton mine Minera Cerro Colorado is concurrently installing an IntelliMine® system in Chile, Escondida can jointly configure the operations, maintenance, and data management modules to maximize corporate synergies and regional efficiencies," noted Baker.
About Minera Escondida Limitada: Escondida, located in northern Chile's region II, began production in 1990 and is the largest copper mine in the world. Production potential has risen to 1.25M tons of copper per annum, the majority of which is in concentrates, with some in cathodes. Current production capacity is approximately 1.05 million tons per annum. The mine also produces over 100,000 ounces of gold per annum. Escondida is 57.5% owned by BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP); Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) 30%; a Japanese consortium led by Mitsubishi 10%; and the World Bank International Finance Corporation 2.5%. About Modular Mining Systems, Inc. Modular, headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, is the market share leader in providing powerful information management solutions to meet the needs of both open pit and underground mining operations worldwide. The company's products range from fully automated, total mine management and control systems using the latest high-precision global positioning systems for surface applications, to proven mining cycle control, monitoring, and identification systems for underground mines. Modular has sales and support offices located in all key world-mining markets. For more information on Modular, the IntelliMine® system, or its new, revolutionary systems for rail management and equipment automation, visit Modular's website at http://www.modularmining.com.
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