Chinese AI technology transforms ore sorting in Peru, forging future of shared success

By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into machines that automatically separate valuable minerals from waste rock, Chinese technology is helping Peruvian mines dramatically enhance metal recovery efficiency, embodying the vision of building a future of shared success across the Asia-Pacific region.

For Oscar Frias Martinelli, board director of the Marco Polo Gold Mine in Peru, extracting valuable minerals from low-grade ore was once a formidable operational and financial bottleneck.

"When you do mining, you also have rocks that are not amenable to be processed because they're too low of a grade," said Martinelli.

Martinelli traveled to China in search of a solution as billions of U.S. dollars in potential revenue hung in the balance. There, he connected with Zhou Shuhao, general manager of global sales at HPY Sorting, an intelligent ore-sorting technology company based in Ganzhou City of east China's Jiangxi Province.

"Peru's copper deposits are mainly porphyry-type. Traditional sorting methods using X-rays or visible light are not effective for this type of ore," Zhou noted.

The solution lay in advanced artificial intelligence. By embedding AI algorithms into automated sorting machinery, the technology can accurately identify and separate valuable minerals that conventional methods miss.

The operational impact is substantial, with a single machine capable of processing 40 to 50 tons of ore per hour. Beyond boosting recovery rates and maximizing economic yield, the technology also significantly mitigates health and safety risks associated with manual sorting.

"I have been looking for this type of high-tech advancement around the world, and I haven't seen this integration in any of those," said Martinelli.

To ensure the technology was perfectly tailored to the unique conditions of the Peruvian terrain, Zhou and his team traveled to South America to conduct rigorous on-site inspections.

"We visited around five to ten mines in Peru to assess the conditions on site and explore possible solutions to their practical challenges," said Zhou.

The hands-on, highly efficient approach left a deep impression on the Peruvian mine director.

"There's a sense of cooperation that is not found in other places in the world. So, whatever you have dreamed in the past to do things, they make it possible in China," said Martinelli.

By ensuring every piece of ore is put to its best use, the technological partnership vividly illustrates how Chinese innovation is forging a future of shared prosperity and sustainable development for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Chinese AI technology transforms ore sorting in Peru, forging future of shared success

Hundreds of exhibitors from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies at the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai have hailed China as far more than a vast market, describing it as a gateway to the wider Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

The timing gives that message particular resonance, with the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen preparing to host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in a matter of days.

For its part, the CIIE has offered a living preview of the priorities APEC champions, among them openness, innovation and cooperation, as companies from across the region pursue deals and partnerships on its exhibition floor, where opportunity has emerged as the prevailing theme.

"CIIE offers Indonesian businesses more than just a place to display their products. It gives them an opportunity to meet potential buyers, find local distributors, build business partnerships, and better understand what Chinese consumers want," said Angga Handian Putra, director, Indonesia Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) Shanghai.

Many longtime participants see the same spirit as a sustained commitment written into China's policy agenda.

"I think what China's been doing over the last few years, and [which] is also carrying on into their next Five-Year Plan is that they've got that openness and are trying to get cooperation and win-win partnerships with countries around the world and businesses around the world," said Roy Van Den Hurk, CEO of Milk New Zealand Dairy Limited.

The benefits, however, are not confined to China's borders, as business connections forged in Shanghai frequently travel far beyond them.

"More importantly, the opportunities do not stop in China. Business connections made at CIIE can open doors to other markets across the Asia-Pacific region. Ultimately, CIIE helps Indonesian businesses grow from simply selling products overseas to building strong brands and long-term business relationships," Angga Handian Putra said.

Shenzhen will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting later this month under the theme of 'Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together,' with the preceding CEO Summit on Nov. 17-18 set to carry conversations first heard on the CIIE floor into the summit's halls.

CIIE opens doors for APEC businesses to China, beyond