Technology transforming operations of SA’s miners
• Boost for safety, efficiency and productivity, writes Pedro van Gaalen
Despite the challenging global macroeconomic climate, mine operators continue to invest in technological advancements to improve operations.
“We consider technological advancements among the most influential disruptions impacting the mining industry as it has the potential to address numerous challenges,” says Stewart Nupen, Technical Mining Advisory Lead at Deloitte.
Dr Heinrich Jantzen, Senior Mining Advisor at Zutari, explains that mining companies are creating technology maps to facilitate mine modernisation throughout the mining life cycle.
“Physical and digital technologies can add value to the exploration, project evaluation, mine design, operations, closure and postclosure phases. If applied or modified for application, these technologies should increase production, productivity, efficiency, safety and reduce the risk of human error.”
In exploration, Nupen says new technologies like parametric planning tools, cloud-based data storage and machine learning (ML) can accelerate orebody model creation and planning.
“These could streamline previously siloed strategic, medium and short-term planning into a more rapid, continuous and potentially self-directing process.”
“Mine operators can also apply technology in exploration for digital scanning to determine the available ore grades and type,” says Shirley Webber, Coverage Head Resource & Energy at Absa CIB.
Addressing challenges encountered during extraction is another area where technology can deliver significant returns. Jantzen states that, given the magnitude of extraction challenges, it is extraordinary that the global mining industry underspends on innovation and business improvement programmes.
“On a revenue-to-revenue basis, the industry spends 80% less on technology and innovation than the petroleum sector. However, operating costs are increasing three times faster than consumer inflation rates and could double within five years.”
With industry margins squeezed, Jantzen recommends embracing innovation to find more productive, efficient and sustainable extraction methods.
Within the operational sphere, mine operators are deploying various intelligent technologies to support production, including internet of things (IoT) solutions, robotic process automation (RPA), cloud computing and renewable energy generation and storage.
“Technologies such as automation and robotics increase efficiency and reduce downtime and human resource requirements, resulting in improved mine all-in sustaining costs in production, and boosting margins and returns for mining companies,” says Webber.
In addition, RPA can improve mine safety by decreasing mineworker exposure to dangerous conditions.
“Advanced analytics can foresee and mitigate potential hazards before they materialise, ensuring a safer and more predictable working environment and more costeffective operations for extraction.”
Mining companies are also deploying IoT sensors and drones to improve safety, with additional applications that can enhance operational efficiencies and environmental monitoring, says Servaas Kranhold, Head of Natural Resources at BDO Johannesburg. “Drone technology can streamline operations by measuring and monitoring mine dumps in a fraction of the time it takes physical reconnaissance, which can reduce costs and enhance human resource utilisation.”
Kranhold adds that connected mines use smart sensors on vehicles and mine workers to enhance safety by ensuring they maintain a safe proximity from each other while offering mine operators the ability to conduct remote operations using unmanned autonomous vehicles in highrisk conditions or areas.
Furthermore, IoT devices and increased computing power enable mining and metals companies to leverage data for real-time insights that augment decision-making on various fronts, says Nupen.
“This data supports more robust and quicker designs, while advanced analytics and ML make predictive maintenance a reality.”
However, artificial intelligence (AI) is arguably the most hyped technology in the sector at present. “We already see AI deployed in autonomous mining equipment, and there is experimentation with it in other activities, but the mining industry is probably on the lower left quadrant of the AI maturity curve,” says Peter Clearkin, MD and Partner at BCG Johannesburg.
Metallurgical processing is one area where AI is already starting to drive greater efficiencies, according to Clearkin. “AI and advanced analytics could help inform processes and steer parameters to increase recoveries and improve profit margins.”
When properly applied, AI could also address funding for exploration, explains Chris Green, Office Managing Partner at Hogan Lovells Johannesburg.
“By significantly reducing the cost of large-scale geological and historical data analysis, AI could support global investment and close the funding gap in exploration activities due to concerns by traditional funders around ESG requirements and global economic uncertainties.”