Minemax Scheduler 7.8 delivers enhanced capital expenditure modelling, improved operational control, more accurate haulage costings, improved usability, and extended reporting options to support practical and strategic mine planning.
This release introduces major upgrades to capital expenditure (CAPEX) modelling, significantly broadening the types of investment scenarios you can represent. CAPEX can now be applied to minimum, cumulative, difference, and capacity constraints—not just maximums—making it possible to model a wider range of real-world planning challenges that were previously unsupported. Whether it’s representing investments that unlock increased tailings capacity, enforce minimum throughput post-upgrade, or expand stockpile limits, you now have the tools to capture more realistic planning assumptions. In addition, phased expenditure is now supported, allowing capital to be spread across multiple time periods for improved alignment between financial and operational plans.
Applying CAPEX to cumulative constraints allows for modelling of investment-driven capacity increases, such as expanding tailings storage facilities.
Using CAPEX with minimum constraints supports modelling of scenarios requiring a guaranteed throughput following an infrastructure upgrade.
The capital associated with expanding a ROM pad can now be modelled using CAPEX with stockpile capacity constraints.
Capital expenditure can now be spread over multiple user-defined periods, making it easier to model phased developments and align financial planning with practical implementation timelines.
Operational control has also been extended with new constraint options. You can now limit the number of benches mined per period within each pit group, helping to manage vertical rate of advance (VRA) across pits and phases. Period-specific minimum mining constraints offer greater flexibility, especially when scheduling periods vary in length, helping you tailor your plans to operational and resource conditions.
Haulage modelling receives a boost with the ability to calculate fastest-path distances for haulage routes. This provides more accurate cost calculations, particularly valuable for contract mining scenarios where haulage costs are based on distance travelled rather than volume or time.
A range of usability and reporting enhancements help streamline your workflows and improve data clarity. Updates include bulk colour editing, improved scenario selection, and faster exporting of schedule data. You can also export schedules and reports in native Datamine formats—including the new DMX file format—and update Datamine block models directly from your schedules. Additional schedule reporting fields now provide insight into timing and stockpile group allocation, while new validation checks and performance improvements support a smoother, more reliable scheduling experience.
About Minemax Scheduler
Minemax Scheduler is a best-in-class mine schedule optimisation software solution designed for strategic and long-term mine planners in open-pit operations. It simultaneously optimises mine schedules, processing, blending, waste dump sequencing, trucking, and capital expenditure decisions to deliver optimal strategic mine plans that meet all project constraints. With its flexible decision modelling and powerful optimisation capabilities, Minemax Scheduler maximises net present value (NPV) and supports sound capital investment decisions. Trusted for over 25 years, it helps mine planners be productive and deliver feasible strategic plans by incorporating all aspects of mining into a single optimisation process.
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