Winding Up, Not Down

Kidd Operations has served the Timmins region of Ontario for nearly six decades. Though the mine is slated to cease production at the end of 2026, the principles of safety, innovation, and excellence remain important.

The approaching transition has underscored Kidd Operations’ commitment to deploying state-of-the-art tools — to support strong safety and performance in the remaining shafts and stopes.

Below, we explore three recent case studies that show how Kidd Operations is leveraging drones, robotics, and 3D mapping to support safety and deliver value not only today, but through its final years of operation and into closure and reclamation.

Case studies that support the point

Here are three examples of how Kidd Operations’ innovation programs are delivering value even as the operation winds down:

• Drone-Powered Inspections (Elios 3 by Flyability): In just one flight, Elios 3 can safely capture dependable inspection data from hard-to-reach areas such as vertical bores and ore passes – tasks that would normally demand more time, costly equipment, and exposing workers to hazardous environments.

Read the case study: Mining More Efficiently at Glencore's Kidd Operations with Elios 3

• Robotics (Spot by Boston Dynamics): Spot, a four-legged robot dog, traverses rough terrain and tight spaces where wheeled or tracked machines struggle. It can bring robust inspection capability without putting people in harm’s way — especially important in older infrastructure and deeper zones.

Read the case study: An Interview with Iain McKillip, Manager of Mine Technical Services, Kidd Operations

• 3D Stope Mapping (Hovermap by Emesent): Hovermap uses advanced LiDAR technology to generate high-resolution point clouds (collection of data points defined in three-dimensional space) and 3D mapping of deformations, voids, and geometry giving geotechnical teams critical data — helping to ensure that stopes are monitored, conditions understood, and safety upheld.

Read the case study: Stope Mapping at Glencore's Kidd Operations

Keeping safety, efficiency & legacy strong until the last day

As mine closure nears, Kidd Operations is doing more than simply maintaining production – the team is focusing on its legacy.

The story at Kidd Operations is not about winding down operations. It’s about winding up: winding up innovation, winding up safety, winding up data-driven decision making. With closure in 2026, there is no room for complacency.

Kidd Operations is demonstrating that even as a mine approaches closure, safety, efficiency, and innovation are not optional — they support the way the operation will finish, how it will be remembered, and how it will transition into what comes next.