Indaba preview
Mining
and the fourth revolution
Technology is bound to disrupt mining companies, suppliers,
service providers, and manufacturers. By Leon Louw
T
he run-up to this year’s Mining
Indaba in Cape Town has
been beset with political
uncertainty, regulatory instability, and
irreversible technological advances in
the mining industry. The exploration
space in South Africa has virtually
been shut down by hostile government
ideology and ludicrous policy changes,
while the dearth of significant
expansion and new development
projects are almost non-existent.
Not only are mining companies
hesitant to invest in a country where
there is so much uncertainty and
confusion, but, added to that, is the
challenge of deeper ore bodies that
are becoming more difficult to mine.
Nevertheless, apart from one or two
mergers and acquisitions in 2017,
the wheels have continued turning at
established operations. But, it was not
business as usual. The tough economic
environment, complexity of ore bodies,
regulatory constraints, and rising costs
have forced mining companies to become
more efficient and productive. Moreover,
it has necessitated the need for mines
to ‘modernise’, adapt to continued
variability, and embrace technology.
Technology is set to become a major
game-changer in the mining industry
in South Africa, and it might just be
the factor that prevents its demise.
What the challenging situation in
South Africa has proven, is that all
new projects will have to go deeper
(which will require better technology
and new equipment) or further, and
for South African companies, that
means venturing into the rest of Africa,
[12] MINING MIRROR FEBRUARY 2018
which presents immense challenges, yet
undeniable opportunities. Africa is the
new frontier for mining companies and
its suppliers and relevant services. The
continent’s geology hosts world-class
mineral deposits. Infrastructure in
terms of rail, road, electricity, and ports
is a constraint, but the situation is
slowly improving in most countries.
Mining companies have a clean
canvas in Africa, and that is a
big advantage. New mines can be
designed and planned to integrate
modern technology and innovation,
taking into account health, safety,
and the environment. However, the
entire mining industry, including
suppliers, providers of services, and
manufacturers need to see with new
eyes and re-think the traditional
ways of doing things. Mining as
we know it has already changed
substantially, and is set to undergo
more profound changes as we enter
the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
‘Modernising’ is probably the
best way to describe what mining
companies and suppliers need to do.
In the lead-up to Mining
Indaba, Mining Mirror
asked a few miners,
thought leaders,
manufacturers, and
suppliers about
modernisation, how
it will affect their
operations, and what
the mine of the future
will look like.
Ian Chapman
Engineering manager –
Multotec Manufacturing
What is your understanding
of the term ‘modernisation of
mines’?
Modernisation is the utilisation of
new technologies that will result in
more efficient recovery of minerals,
making the processes used more
cost-effective. Such processes involve
all parts of the value stream and
not just mineral beneficiation. It
includes, for example, areas such as
improved logistics or HR processes.