The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has released a new report titled The Digital Mine, which reveals new insight into the role of innovation in delivering better outcomes and greater productivity for resources industries.
The Digital Mine report suggests that innovation has improved safety, driven greater productivity, delivered sustainable development and made Australia a top-tier three jurisdiction for mining patent filings.
These technology-driven improvements are occurring through the mining lifecycle from exploration, development and operations to closure and rehabilitation. Examples include:
- Regenerative and kinetic braking to reduce vehicle fleet emissions by up to 35 per cent and operational costs by ten to 15 per cent
- Embedding integrated automation to improve productivity across operations by up to 30 per cent
- Advanced artificial intelligence, virtual reality and wearable technology to improve worker safety
- Site electrification through off-grid solar farms and switching to electric vehicles
MCA Chief Executive, Tania Constable, said though industry’s investment and embrace of new technologies was impressive, it in of itself was no cause for complacency.
“While Australia’s mining industry is embracing technology-led innovation at an unprecedented rate, this transformation cannot be taken for granted,” Ms Constable said.
“It requires coordinated action and a shared commitment by industry and government to develop and maximise the substantial opportunities that exist to reaffirm Australian mining’s position as the minerals super power that will meet the demand for the important commodities for modern life and the transition to net zero emissions.”
The recommendations of the MCA’s report are consistent with both the Government’s election commitments as well as the outcomes it announced following the Jobs and Skills Summit held 1-2 September, including:
- Improving collaboration to boost women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
- Identifying and formalising new skills in digital transformation for the existing mining workforce
- Maintaining and growing support for industry-orientated research and innovation
- Prioritising the recognition of new occupations by the Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Leveraging strength of the tertiary education sector to guarantee a pipeline of mining engineers
- Establishing regulatory sandboxes for mining innovation
“There is more work to be done and consultations that need to occur between industry and government to ensure practical, efficient and effective outcomes,” Ms Constable said.
The Digital Mine Report was released during Minerals Week 2022, which seeks to address current challenges facing the resource sector and, in turn, its ongoing contribution to the Australian economy.
The report is available to read in full at this link.
