S07 TRME 5 2021 Construction & Mining_Layout 1 29/10/2021 07:34 Page 24
Mining
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Poised for growth
There are great expectations from the mining industry. Here, we track some technologies changing the landscape. HINGS ARE EXPECTED to get much better for the world’s biggest mining companies. The PwC Mine 2021 Report says that the world’s big miners have emerged stronger than ever after weathering the storms of 2020. The International Monetary Fund hopes to see an economic growth of around 4% for the MENA region, for both 2021 and 2022, after the havoc wreaked by the effects of the coronavirus. As the world emerges from the worst of the pandemic, several governments have made infrastructure investments a major part of their recovery plans. Major projects in the region include the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) and Marubeni Corporation’s power and desalination project with Saudi Aramco, Bahrain’s metro rail project, Ras Al Khaimah’s Marjan and Saudi Arabia’s project on Qetaifan Island North.
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Tracking trends Digitalisation is improving efficiency in operations in the urban construction and
mining environments. Equipment manufacturers are employing innovations and latest technologies in growing urbanisation and residential construction projects, and in mining equipment such as large excavators. The mining industry offers ease of implementation of autonomous technology too. Metso Outotec’s sustainable screening is a technological advancement that is useful in water management. The patented BSE Series screens enable iron ore processing even with higher natural moisture content without adding water. “The elimination of process water ultimately results in lower processing costs, increasing the customer’s competitiveness and profitability in the iron ore global markets,” said Jouni Mähönen, vice president, screening business line, Metso Outotec. The use of renewable energy is helping mining companies reduce power costs and control emissions in the mines. Hitachi Construction Machinery has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ABB to explore opportunities for mine operators to target netzero emissions from
Technical Review Middle East - Issue Five 2021
mining machinery. The companies will explore opportunities to apply ABB’s electrification, automation and digital solutions to mining trucks and excavators provided by Hitachi Construction Machinery, leveraging both companies’ advanced engineering technologies. The combined solutions aim to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of customer businesses, contributing to the reduction of CO₂ and the realisation of a sustainable society. “The majority of mining operations worldwide remain energyintensive, with many of the current industrial processes producing significant greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change continues to impact society and communities; it is our vision through this commercial collaboration to provide solutions that can reduce our customers’ environmental footprint. We are delighted to be collaborating with ABB as we continue to invest our efforts in introducing ecofriendly technologies and systems for the mining industry,” said Sonosuke Ishii, senior vice president and executive officer at Hitachi Construction Machinery. ■ www.technicalreview.me
