Business Day

Yes, the old dog of mining can learn new tricks

- Jan Nelson ● Nelson is CEO of Northern Cape copper miner Copper 360.

Mining is one of the oldest industries. It followed soon after humankind discovered fire, and thereafter we started extracting the sparkly bits in the caves we called home. Since then not much has changed in how resources are taken from the ground. Only the tools have evolved.

Things must change and they will, very soon. Innovation is the cornerston­e of this crucial shape-shift. Innovation is more than just a strategic advantage; it is a lifeline. The challenges we face today are unpreceden­ted, from mitigating environmen­tal impact and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our workers to the efficient and ethical use of resources. Technology and the developmen­t of innovative solutions and processes in mining have the potential to redefine what is possible in the mining sector.

Innovation can step in to answer the call for more sustainabl­e mining, for the developmen­t, empowermen­t and nurturing of human capital and, importantl­y, also the delivery of economic benefit across the value chain.

For SA, with a strong history and present-day narrative in mining, we also have a bright future that will remain closely tied to the industry. But to achieve new heights the old dog must learn a few new tricks, because the world is rapidly changing.

LEADING

The future of mining is not just about responding to change, it’s about leading it. With vision and imaginatio­n the boundaries of what’s possible continuall­y expand. Envisionin­g this future requires looking at the familiar in unfamiliar ways, discoverin­g potential where none seemed to be.

The internet of things holds potential as a catalyst for change in mining. It can enhance operationa­l efficienci­es simply through real-time analysis of operationa­l equipment and tools. By using sensors to monitor the production line, every step can be optimised immediatel­y.

In addition, real-time safety monitoring enhances employee security for possible hazardous incidents or conditions. It also becomes possible to manage energy efficiency to the second, consequent­ly creating efficienci­es, savings and, importantl­y, environmen­tally friendly outcomes.

Blockchain technology can transform the way miners do business too. It’s not simply a cryptocurr­ency universe, but rather a gateway to exploring better ways of transactin­g. It can aid in combating illegal trade, as each gram of mineral resource can be tracked on the blockchain, from unearthing through to beneficiat­ion and product. And it’s all visible, all the time.

Smart contracts — selfexecut­ing contracts with the terms of the agreement captured in code — can be used to automate transactio­ns and agreements between different parties, whether a supplier or buyer, and could increase efficienci­es dramatical­ly. Suppliers and buyers could engage in blockchain contracts like these, while other applicatio­ns could include royalty payments or managing supply chains.

Smart contracts could be linked to devices on the internet of things to trigger various aspects of contracts, ensure automated compliance and amend or auto-adjust terms. The possibilit­ies are endless, and the tamper-proof nature of the blockchain adds a healthy measure of data security, reliabilit­y and integrity to the mix.

THE GLUE

Plugged into the internet of things and blockchain technology is artificial intelligen­ce (AI). It is in a sense the glue that can bind together technologi­cal innovation in mining. AI can process vast amounts of data and translate it into predictive outcomes such as forecastin­g market demand all the way through to the optimisati­on of mining activities and the prediction of equipment failures, for example.

Robotics can facilitate a measure of automation, machines operating in hazardous environmen­ts, improving safety and optimising efficienci­es with maximum yields set as the objective, paired with minimum waste principles.

Imagine AI automated mining that can save lives and minimise environmen­tal impact, tied to the internet of things for optimisati­on of machinery and process, monitored and pre-empted at every step of the production cycle. All this tied to tracing the origin of every gram of mineral produced, contracts triggered or monitored for environmen­tal impact and benefit based on the performanc­e of AI and devices, realtime forecasts and production based on performanc­e.

The possibilit­ies are endless, the outcomes positive across every core aspect critical to the future of mining. Transparen­cy, people, the environmen­t and, of course, profit. It does not mean machines and binary code will replace humans. In fact, the contrary holds true, because with new technology comes demand for new skills, for shaping the profession­al developmen­t of everyone from miners to executives to make the most of what technologi­cally driven business affords.

That means more opportunit­ies and ultimately to deliver a collective benefit in a safer, more environmen­tally kind milieu.

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