I was struck recently by an article in the Australian Fin Review talking about the future of mining in light of a potential pandemic re-set.
Written by Accenture’s David Burns, who heads the company’s natural resources practice globally, it says the shock of Covid’s impact on mining operations is “accelerating its digital transformation”.
He says Accenture “believes mining operations could be silent and invisible” by 2035, with the industry using “non-invasive exploration and minimally destructive extraction, with people free operations occurring beneath an undisturbed surface and all human operators working remotely.”
It sounds like he’s quoting from the recently launched “Zero Emission Copper Mines of the Future” report, though of course he’s talking about the whole mining sector. It prompted me to do a quick survey of our members to see what digital innovations are being accelerated, for example:
- BHP are speeding up adoption of their integrated Remote Operational Control system whereby staff drive trucks in the mine from locations far from the mine
- Oz Minerals CEO Andrew Cole says they have established Project Beyond to boost moves toward becoming a virtual & flexible company, with How We Work Together principles making flexible work available for everyone
- OK Tedi is better tracking staff using smart ID cards & wrist bracelets with built in GPS to understand where & how personnel are working off and onsite.
Mr Burns does acknowledge that mining hasn’t always been at the forefront of digital innovation (“late adoption” he calls it) despite leading the way in autonomous vehicles.
He suggests three strategies post Covid to fix that: enhancing resiliency by “going virtual”, creating a connected value chain to provide earlier data insights using AI & Machine Learning, and re-skilling the workforce.
But maybe the most important is his suggestion that mining companies move “beyond their four walls” to embrace industry wide innovation. Once again this could have all come straight from our Zero Emissions Stage 1 report, a blueprint for the copper industry to harness change.
We’re now working with companies, universities, research and METS organisations, mining companies, RDA’s and communities to do Stage 2 and 3 so the industry gets to zero emissions by 2050. Something investors, government and consumers increasingly say they want.
I know the future may be unpredictable, but I also know smart, clean & green will be a huge part of it.
Cheers,
John Fennell
