TECHNOLOGY • here are important – unlike the previous survey , the miners were unwilling to estimate their progress going forward . Instead , in this survey , they would only provide numbers if they could draw it from their management information systems – i . e ., if they were planned or implemented on their roadmap .” ( See Figure 2 .)
Figure 2 : Gains expected from digitalising . A like-for-like comparison taken between the 2020 study and the 2022 study – i . e ., a smaller sample size that compares directly to answers in 2020 .
The most important advances from digital programmes over the next five years predicted by the respondents were : reduction or elimination of fatalities ; improved metal accounting linked to improvements in control and measurement systems in the processing environments ; and diesel particulate matter reduction , said McKay . ( See Figure 3 .)
Supplied PwC manage the business . In order for one version of the truth to work , we need to trust our information ( in real-time if we want to be successful ).”
“ When asked what the dominant drivers are being measured , we see that most of our respondents are looking for value in asset management ( 82 %); followed by supply chain and logistics ( 73 %). Asset management has grown in stature and value with the data it generates being utilised to inform real value-generating programmes – leading on from the Internet of Things ( IoT ) being the biggest investment back in 2020 .” ( See Figure 4 .)
Figure 3 : Areas expected to see gains in the next five years , due to digitalisation .
Digital tools don ’ t just measure , they contribute Willing organised labour entities interviewed in the survey indicated their support of modernisation , progression and digitalisation . Their expectation was that digital transformation would improve workforce health and safety , and communications – in real-time – implying a more open culture with a balance struck between production , health and safety and communication . Mackay emphasised that the request was for the equipping of the workforce with digital tools to empower them to reach targets and contextualise to enable people to make better real time decisions . Unions also believe that more could be done at R & D , technology , and skills development levels .
The imperatives for sustainability , and the crown jewels Per the survey , ” Data is going to be the most intensely managed part of the business of mining in the next 10 years .” Verhaeghe noted that , in the face of global disruption – de-globilisation , food shortages , near-shoring , friend-shoring and integrated trade-blocks , the green metals premium and the move to a green economy , the rising cost of living , and supply-chain issues , among others , “ Our miners are tackling this set of complex challenges head-on . A significant amount of groundwork has taken place since 2021 with miners establishing project management offices specifically geared to deliver climate change initiatives , energy programmes and transformative technology projects .”
He added that proactive business management is the order of the day , “ Miners want to drive asset utilisation , drive decision-making based on data produced at the site , automate and integrate reporting ( including ESG ) and other functions to proactively
Supplied PwC
Figure 4 : Asset management leads the way as the greatest contributor of measurable value from digital programmes .
Additionally , he said it starts with attracting scarce skills to the mines or developing them in local communities as a long-term strategy . However , he emphasised that the survey concluded that miners do not need to be data scientists , but data scientists need to learn mining .
Article three will touch on highlights of the balance of the insights brought to bear by this ‘ eye-opening ’ survey that no doubt will drive decision making and innovation in the next two years of South Africa ’ s digitalisation journey . We leave you this month with food for positive thought in insight six – “ We are up to the challenge and have the tools we need to win .” •
Source :
1 . https :// www . pwc . co . za / en / publications / ten-insights-into-4ir . html
What is clear is that respondents want digital and ESG to be embedded in everything across the mining value chain .
Supplied PwC www . africanmining . co . za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • July 2023 • 19