Case Study: Cominco achieves on-time, on-budget, ecologically responsible mining with Pitney Bowes

Precision mapping from Pitney Bowes helps drive greater profitability for Cominco

Cominco, a small UK-based mining company licensed to explore the Hinda Phosphate Deposit in the Republic of Congo, faced the challenge of planning an ecologically responsible, cost‑effective mining operation in an area with no existing maps or 3D models. To inform location and operational decisions, Cominco engaged Pitney Bowes and used its MapInfo Pro, MapInfo Discover and MapInfo Discover 3D software to create the necessary cartography and topography.

Pitney Bowes helped Cominco design and map the region—including placement of more than 900 exploratory boreholes—produce cross‑section and multi‑dimensional geological models, and integrate aerial lidar for a complete view. The resulting maps enabled more efficient, cost‑effective fieldwork, clearer executive decision‑making, and positioned Cominco to develop the deposit (estimated at 580 million metric tons of phosphate) on time and on budget using Pitney Bowes location‑intelligence tools.

Cominco

Helena Vilchez

Geographic Information Systems Expert