The companies have developed 'BASF Intelligent Mine solution powered by IntelliSense.io',  a real-time, decision-making application that integrates IntelliSense's AI software with BASF's mineral processing and chemical technology.

The solution, which can be configured for individual sites within three months, supports each mining process, such as grinding, thickening, flotation and pumping, with an Optimisation as a Service (OaaS) application which predicts and simulates future performance.

"Our partnership with IntelliSense.io combines state of the art artificial intelligence and decades of ore beneficiation experience into a powerful, fast and easy to deploy optimisation platform," said Damien Caby, senior vice president, BASF Oilfield Chemicals & Mining Solutions. "Efficiency improvements resulting from the first implementations by our joint dedicated team are helping customers accelerate the digital transformation of their mining operations."

The solution gives constant remote operations access, while an in-built simulation tool can test alternative operating conditions.

The AI solutions are based on a hybrid cloud architecture, enabling both on-site and cloud deployments.

Emerging mineral sands producer Image Resources has experienced promising results from the solution.

"Image Resources is both excited and optimistic about the potential the BASF Intelligent Mine powered by IntelliSense.io can have to positively impact the accuracy and efficiency of our process control functions to meaningfully improve our bottom-line," said Patrick Mutz, Image Resources managing director. "From our experience so far, we are confident it will achieve these results whilst simplifying and de-stressing operational decision making."

Sam G Bose, chief executive of IntelliSense.io, said the product has opex and capex benefits.

"In a tough economic climate, the need to focus on mining productivity, within sustainable and remote operational constraints, is driving pressure on operating and capex budgets and requires innovative solutions with accelerated value delivery," said Bose.

 "The partnership between BASF and IntelliSense.io ensures mining organisations have a partner that understands both their operational risk as well as new technologies."