2051 catenary span, blast exclusion zones, bench width, and geotechnical setbacks enhances safety, maintainability, and operational accessibility as the pit evolves. Optimized substation siting provides tangible operational benefits. Positioning mobile substations closer to active mining areas—supported by targeted bench adjustments where required and approved— reduces supply distances, mitigates voltage drop risks, and improves power continuity. Aligning overhead line routing with ramp geometry further minimizes traffic interaction and reduces the need for future reconfigurations. While detailed economic quantification was outside the scope of this study, the findings indicate clear positive implications. Reductions in infrastructure relocations, unnecessary installation/removal cycles, and excessive cable lengths are expected to improve both operating efficiency and capital allocation. In addition, better alignment between electrical infrastructure and pit development reduces production delays linked to power interruptions. Further economic evaluation of these impacts is recommended as future work. The proposed methodology is readily transferable to other open pit operations with in‑pit electrical reticulation networks supplying electrically powered mining equipment. Its implementation does not require additional resources, but rather improved integration and coordination of existing mine planning, electrical, and operational data. While this study focused primarily on supplying power to electric shovels and drills, the same integrated planning logic applies to other in‑pit electrical loads such as pit dewatering pumps, geotechnical monitoring systems, and auxiliary electrical equipment. Incorporating these additional power demands into the planning process further reinforces the need for coordination between Mine Planning, Geotechnical, Dewatering, and Electrical Maintenance teams when defining electrical infrastructure locations and capacities. Finally, sustained value depends on strong cross‑functional governance. Interdisciplinary collaboration between Electrical Maintenance, Geotechnical, Operations, and Mine Planning teams is essential to ensure practical, executable, and robust solutions. The use of shared planning cycles, georeferenced infrastructure inventories, and operational KPIs supports consistent decision‑making and long‑term planning reliability. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author would like to express sincere appreciation to all individuals who contributed to making this project possible. Special thanks are extended to the Mine Electrical Maintenance Planning team and to the Short‑ and Long‑Term Mine Planning teams for their support, collaboration, and valuable technical input throughout the study. The author also wishes to acknowledge all personnel involved in supplying electrical power to the pit—from those who design and engineer the infrastructure to those who carry out daily cable movements and field execution. Their ongoing efforts and commitment were essential to the development of this work, and without their continued dedication, the mine could not operate as efficiently as it does today. REFERENCES Morley, L. A. (1987). Mine Power Systems, Information Circular 9258. Wärtsilä & Schneider Electric. (2025). Mining Power System: Recommended Power Generation and Electrical Network Architecture.
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