Development of autonomous surface blasthole drills in the global mining sector, 2025

The popularity of autonomous blasthole drills is continuing to grow across surface mines, with miners taking advantage of improvements to productivity; reductions in accidents and operating costs; increased machine life and lower fuel consumption.

As of May 2025, The analyst was tracking 382 autonomous blasthole drills operating on surface mines across the globe. This figure includes both those with autonomous technology installed (i.e. with command centre) as well as running autonomously.
The largest population of autonomous drills is in Australia with 145, followed by Chile, Canada and South Africa.

Key Highlights

• The largest population of autonomous drills is in Australia with 145, followed by Chile, Canada and South Africa.
• Anglo American accounts for the largest number of autonomous drills, followed by Fortescue, BHP, and Rio Tinto.
• Epiroc is the leading OEM, with Caterpillar in second place. Together these two OEMs account for 87% of the known brands tracked by the analyst.

Scope

• The report analyses the development of autonomous blasthole drills in the mining industry, and specifying the exact brands and models used across each mine. Future plans for further additions or introductions of autonomous drills are included as well as details of the benefits achieved from the use of autonomous drills by miners.

Reasons to Buy

• Track the development of autonomous blasthole drills in the mining sector.
• Drill down to numbers of autonomous drills by brand and model at each mine
• Compare the use of autonomous drills by mining company
• Identify the benefits achieved from the use of autonomous drills by miners.
• View future plans for the introduction of autonomous drills by mine.