AMG Brasil — Predictive Control of the Mibra Grinding Circuit
The company
AMG Brasil runs the Mibra mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil — in operation since 1945, producing tantalum, niobium and lithium concentrates. It is the first link of AMG’s chain to battery-grade lithium hydroxide in Germany.
AMG Critical Materials N.V. is listed on Euronext Amsterdam and had US$1.7 billion in revenue in 2025.
The challenge
In the grinding circuit, sudden rises in circulating load forced the feed conveyor to be cut back — often below 70 t/h — about seven times a day. Every cut was ore the mill could have processed.
What we deployed
A predictive model of the circulating load, driving the feed conveyor in real time. Instead of cutting the feed, the AI Autopilot sees the rise coming, holds a level the mill can absorb, then returns to maximum feed.
The software connects to the plant’s supervisory system, collects sensor data, computes the best parameters and makes the adjustments automatically.
Results (May–July 2025)
- 80%+ of feed cuts anticipated and avoided — in the first tests, with the software still in development
- +3.5 to 5 t of ore per event, more than manual control processed in the same situation
- +20 to 35 t of ore a day, at about seven events a day
- A steadier circulating load, fewer stops and a better grind
In their words
“Integration was surprisingly fast — in less than two weeks we were already seeing real gains in the grinding.” — Marco Antonio, Automation & AI Engineer, AMG
Next step
Controlling the mill’s water valves for even more stability.