FINANCE FORUM •
THREE WAYS TECHNOLOGY
THREE WAYS TECHNOLOGY
IMPROVES SUSTAINABILITY IN MINING
Digital transformation produces immediate and tangible sustainability benefits for industries in the mining , minerals , and metals sector , says Martin Provencher , Industry Principal , Mining , Metals and Materials , Aveva .
The mining industry indirectly caters to nearly every sector of the economy , from raw materials for industrial components for wind turbines and electric vehicles , to precious metals aimed at consumer industries . But as industrial and retail consumers remain focused on sustainability and are increasingly prepared to vote with their wallets , mining enterprises face corresponding pressure to shift to cleaner and more sustainable operations . This pressure has only intensified in the wake of the pandemic .
The task ahead is daunting : to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 ° C by 2050 , the mining industry will need to reduce direct CO₂ emissions to zero , called Net Zero . As a signatory to the joint Race to Zero alliance , Aveva is committed to Net Zero emissions within its own operations and to helping its customers in the mining , minerals and metals sector achieve the same target through digital transformation .
Mining , minerals , and metals organisations recognise that digital transformation is single biggest facilitator of improved sustainability practices across the industry . IDC research shows that more than 85 % of organisations across the sector either already implement operational metrics that are directly linked to sustainability or plan to do so in the near future .
Digital Mining Transformation solutions help mining companies to reduce complexity and optimise business and operational performance in tangible ways , including by providing greater visibility and control over operations , enhancing resource and process optimisation , monitoring , and managing energy and water consumption , providing insights on environmental emissions reduction opportunities , and designing green processes .
How does technology improve sustainability in mining ? Digital transformation yields immediate and tangible sustainability benefits for organisations in the mining , minerals , and metals industry . From visibility into value chain inefficiencies to sustainable design solutions , onboarding technological solutions pays off in three different ways for the mining sector :
• Assembles data insights : By leveraging technology to capture data across their mining operations , organisations can quickly track important metrics . They will quickly understand , for example , how much energy they are consuming , and simultaneously , what changes and innovations can help to lower that consumption . As research shows , data improves decision-making and helps initiate action towards sustainability goals within and outside the organisation .
• Provides empirical evidence : The availability of such comprehensive datasets allows mining organisations to demand cleaner sources of energy at source from suppliers in turn . About 90 % of sector organisations currently plan to implement energy data measurements in order to enable carbon management systems across their operations , according to IDC .
• Facilitates sustainable design : Finally , data enables mining and minerals organisations to design for sustainability and safety . IDC surveys show that 50 % of organisations currently actively monitor their equipment and processes to assess their impact on safety on the mine floor . In most instances , if those health and safety risks are too high , the organisation will look to alternative , safer products . So , technology facilitates the choice of designing plants with a sustainable mindset .
Aveva ’ s Digital Mining and Metals Transformation solutions can provide the operational and organisational insight required to make sustainable operations and improved decisions through the collection and analysis of data . No less than 19 of the world ’ s top 20 mining companies are currently Aveva customers .
For an idea of how digital transformation pays off in terms of sustainability consider Black Rock Mine Operations ( BRMO ),
www . africanmining . co . za |
African Mining Publication |
African Mining |
African Mining • November 2021 • 37 |