Mining asteroids will ul mately benefit humanity on and off the Earth in a mul tude of ways.
-Peter Diamandis
Mining has been an age-old prac ce that has provided humanity with impera ve resources for centuries. From gold and silver to coal and oil, the world has relied on miners to help build the future.
From the Industrial Revolu on to the present, mining has been an essen al part of our world, with its remarkable progress providing invaluable bequests to humanity. Yet, with the dawn of a new age of technological progress and environmental awareness, the mining industry finds itself facing unprecedented difficul es. With more complex and hazardous methods of extrac ng minerals and resources, along with growing concerns about the effects on the environment and nearby communi es, the mining sector is facing a cri cal juncture.
Despite the challenges posed by the need for sustainable and responsible mining prac ces, this also presents an opportunity to innovate and advance. We are witnessing the emergence of new technologies and crea ve solu ons, such as drones and AI, to monitor and op mize mining opera ons, as well as the development of materials and technologies that lessen the environmental impact of mining. Thus, the industry is now enclasping innova on in exci ng ways.
Furthermore, there is a growing movement toward smallscale, community-driven mining ini a ves that priori ze
the social and economic well-being of local communi es. These ini a ves aim to empower communi es to take control of their resources and benefit from mineral wealth.
Thus, mining companies adhere to stringent standards to operate sustainably and responsibly, both ecologically and economically. In doing so, they bring a range of benefits to local and global economies. Through further technological advances and greater public awareness, mining companies con nue to be a powerful force for posi ve change in the world.
In its latest edi on, Insights Success seeks to explore "The World's Best Mining Companies to Watch in 2022" and their various advances. Flip through the pages to discover the cap va ng journeys that these companies have to offer and embrace the progress they have brought.
Have an enthralling read ahead!
Editor-in-Chief Merry D'Souza
Managing Editor
Prashik Bombarde
Visualiser David King
Art & Design Head
Co-designer Sonia Raizada
Art & Design Assistant
Shinganapurkar
Shruti Tikotkar Business Development Manager
Manager
Kelly, David Business Development Executives
Circulation Manager Tanaji Fartade Research Analyst Eric Smith
December, 2022
Company
Featuring Brief Company
Featuring Brief
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. avalonadvancedmaterials.com
Don Bubar CEO
Avalon specializes in cri cal metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology
MEC Mining mecmining.com.au
Christofer Catania CEO
MEC Mining is a global technical consul ng firm specializing in mining services capabili es across the project life cycle from early-stage explora on.
PerenniAL theperennial-group.com
C Brian Hesse CEO, Co-owner and President
Perennial brings aluminum consumers the most consistent, high quality, environmentally focused aluminum with the best customer service and market analysis.
Perennial’s focus is on sustainability and to ensure, we source our products from manufacturers and mines that have a low carbon footprint.
C Brian Hesse Co-owner, President and CEO PerenniAL
Aconstantresourceflowflourishestheregions
arounditandspreadshappinesstoboth–humans andthebiodiversity
Butwiththeclocktickingahead,onemightask,“Is this resource flow perennial?”Andifnot,howtokeepitso?
Andhere,theroleofadvancingtechnologyisreflected.Itis comingupwithinnovativesolutionstoensureindustrial processesproducesustainableproducts.
But,technologyalonewon’tdothecharm! Andthishighlightstheimportanceofincorporating REDUCE.REUSE.RECYCLE.,inkeyindustrial operations.
Consideringthisandtherisingmarketdemand,aluminum hasemergedasadiversemetalthatisdelivering sustainabilityintheprocessalongwithmaximizing customersatisfaction.It’scurrenttradeisnotonlyasafinal productbutalsoasavalue-addedproducttoo.
Tosupplythisdemand,manycompaniesarefinding innovativesolutionsforthesame.Onecompanythatis pioneeringtheproductionofvalue-addedaluminumis PerenniAL.Thecompanyisshapingthevalue-added aluminummarketbybeingdedicatedtosustainable productionand,atthesametime,enhancingcustomer experience.
Asanevergreenstreamrequiresasourcetokeepgoing, PerenniALhasfounditssourceinitsCo-owner,President andCEO,CBrianHesse.Hishardworkanddedication havemadethiscompanycomealongway.
Let's read more about this company which is revolutionizing the green metal industry:
Withthegoalofaddressingthedeficitsinthemining industryandmakingtheindustryresourceefficient, PerenniALwasformedinMay2022asanMBO (ManagementBuyoutofRusalAmericanCorporation). PerenniALisinthetopthreeimportersofvalue-added aluminumimportstoNorthAmerica.Itisalsoatop
performerincustomerservice,logistics,finance,and technicalservice.
Talkingproudlyaboutthecompany’sjourney,theCEO says, “Perennial/s focus is on sustainability, and to ensure this, we source our products from manufacturers and mines that have a low carbon footprint. We predominantly service the building and construction, solar, auto, truck trailer, recreational vehicle, and general aluminum fabrication markets.”
Thecompany,despiteitsrecentestablishment,isnot limitedinitsservicesandhasadiversifiedproductrange thatcaterstootherassociatedindustries.
Acompanyisknowninthemarketbytheuniqueproducts itprovides,andPerenniALstandstruetothisprinciple.It offersvalue-addedaluminumproductstotheAmericans. Theseinclude:
· Billet,
· PFA(PrimaryFoundryAlloy),
· RollingSlab,
· HighPurityAlloysand
· WireRod.
We only work with partners who are achieving certain targets and always working to be better. Our world depends on this.
But,ensuringqualitywithquantityisthekey.Underscoring theimportanceofthis,theCEOsays, “These products are sourced from smelters and mines that are low carbon and driven to reach sustainability goals in the future to ensure our manufacturing customers can meet their goals.”
Theminingindustryhasbeenovershadowedbychallenges relatedtohealthandsafety,accesstoresources, environmentalfootprintetc,thathaveinhibitedthesector's growthglobally.Workingtoreducethecarbonemissions fromtheindustry,theCEOelaborates,“PerenniAL distributes on low carbon aluminum. We demand our suppliers meet specific requirements when it comes to their carbon footprint and their overall sustainability factors. We only work with partners who are achieving certain targets and always working to be better
Our world depends on this.”
Thisdedicationhashelpedthecompanyachievea prominentpositioninthemarketinsuchashorttime period.
Withgreatsuccesscomesgreaterchallenges,andan efficientleadertranslatesthesechallengesinto opportunities.Beingtheleaderwithaninsight,Briansays, “The key challenge in the mining industry is to meet consumer low carbon demands in the future.
Thoughtherearemultiplewaystoaddressthischallenge, theCEOpointsouttoauniqueandessentialsolution.He says,“Mining operations are the first step that contributes to carbon content, and there is a lot of investment and procedural changes that need to happen to lower their carbon footprint.”
Everyoneresonateswithapopularpoem– The Road Not Taken Thedilemmaatcrossroadsneedsonetomakea choice.Achoicethatisimportantandwillshapethepresent andfuture.Similarly,acompanypositionedinamarkethas variousoptionstocomplytowhereitbecomesimportantto haveaclearmissionandavisiontokeepthegrowthcurve upwards.
Brian Hesse has been in the metals industry since 1996. He began his career with Ryerson Inc and held several posi ons in sales and marke ng. From 2009-2011 he was Global Account Director for Ryerson, handling the largest account in the company that accounted for 72 million in revenue. Brian then went to Aleris Interna onal (now Novelis) where he started his first role that involved interna onal business as their Global Sales Director with an emphasis on defense and common alloy aluminum plate. He had responsibility in 12 countries and handled sales of 75-100 million per year.
In 2018 Brian accepted the posi on of VP of Sales and Marke ng for Vedanta, an India-based aluminum manufacturer. He was responsible for the Americas and grew the book of business more than 60% achieving 200K metric ton of sales in on year.
In 2019 Brian was hired as President and CEO of Rusal America Corp based on New York. Rusal America had just come off sanc ons by the US Government, and his primary role was to rebrand the company and grow it. He reposi oned the company’s business strategy to focus on OEMs, established US opera ons and ensure compliance with post-sanc on regula ons and built a team of the best people in the industry. Under his direc on, the company grew its annual tonnage from 135,000 metric ton in 2019 to over 350,000 metric ton in 2022. On May 1, 2022, Brian and his business partner Andrey Donets successfully completed a Management Buy Out of Rusal America to form PerenniAL. He proudly expresses, “PerenniAL is now a 100% owned and operated US company.”
Tosupplementthecompany’sshorttermambitions,itis commandedbythemissionstatementofPerennial,bringing aluminumconsumersthemostconsistent,high-quality, environmentallyfocusedaluminumwiththebestcustomer serviceandmarketanalysis.Thedepthissignifiedwhen Brianexpresses, “We develop long-term partners, not customers.”
AccordingtotheCEO,PerenniALisdrivenbythevision, “To be the largest and the most reliable American owned and operated supplier of value-added aluminum products to the Americans while providing better than the best customer service before and after the sale with an immense focus on impacting the World with responsibly sourced aluminum.”
Perennialwillscaleitsproductofferingin2023and beyond.Itconsidersinteractionwiththecustomerasa crucialstepinscalingbusinessandsotheCEOwhile briefingaboutthecompany’sfutureoperations,says, “We will do so with low carbon, sustainable products and the
best sales and service in the industry. We are launching a brand-new customer service portal in October 2022 through Waybride that will cement our place as the best customer service company in the aluminum industry.”
Theindustryisbrimmingwithopportunitiesandmost venturersaretryingtousethemtotheiradvantage.The miningindustryencompasseseverythingfromextracting fromtheearth’sservice,andmanufacturingsemi-finished productstothesaleanddistributionofaluminumproducts tomanufacturers.
And,hereiswhereaguidinglightbecomesimportant. Showingthepathtothebuddingentrepreneurs,Brian advises, “My best advice is to ensure you work with a company that has specific targets for their carbon footprint and overall sustainability plan. These are key factors for success in the future.”
Don Bubar CEO Avalon Advanced Materials, Inc.
World’s Best Mining Companies to watch in 2022
Thewaytechnologyhasescalateditswayintoour
modernlives,it'sinevitabletodiminishits presence.Beitourphones,laptops,tractors,cars, electricaltransmissionlines,andjewelryaswell.Tosumit up,allourlivesrevolvearoundtechnologyandtheperksof theseadvancements.
Withallthesetechnologicaladvancements,atrigger questionsis,˝Do we realize what goes into their making? Well,it'sourmineralresourcesthatourEarthisabundantly richwith.Withoutthese,ourindustrieswouldfall,andour standardsoflivingtoo.
Thus,tomaintainabalancebetweenourmineralwealthand ourvitaltechnologicalaids,AvalonAdvancedMaterials Inc.retainssustainabilitybyrestoringmineralwealthtothe Earthinpioneeringwaysandbyimprovingsupplychains forearthelementsinindustriessuchasaerospace, medicine,andothers.Avalonactslikeamediatorforthe onewhovaluestheseelements.
Torestoresustainableelementstoourecosystem,theCEO ofAvalonAdvancedMaterialsInc.,DonBubar,formed AvalonwithaVSElistingandover20,000shareholders worldwide.AvalonattainedanESGRiskRatingin2021 andtheranksroseto5%ofatotalof150industry companies.
Currently,Avalonisprimarilyfocusedonitsfiveperilous projects:RareEarths,CesiumTantalumLithium, DifferentiatingLithium,andTechnologicalevolutionslike CleanTechnology
Let us know more in detail about Avalon’s marvels.
Seeingitsrootedexperienceasasteadfastnamethatwill maintainitsstanceonsustainabilityandsocial responsibility,Avalonprovidesitstacticalresourcesand processsolutionstoefficientlyempowerthefullfunctioning ofsupplychainsinNorthAmerica.
Furtheringahead,itisinterestingtonotethat,toutilizeits strategicreserveinventorytoserveasaleadingNorth Americancompany,thecompanyisstandingtoughamidst asmallscaleofevolvingcompaniestowardsinnovative ways.ThemainstrategyofAvalonistoadoptprinciplesof sustainabilitytoalignwithimpendingcustomerslikeclean technology,whodemandtheirsupplychainstobepurely sustainable.
Withtheever-growingdemandforelementslikelithium, tantalum,lithium,tantalum,cesium,rubidium,indium, gallium,germanium,zirconium,andtinforutilizationin Medicine,Aerospace,modernelectronics,cleanenergy, defence,therichmineralresourceendowmentcantakethe leadinimplementingenvironmentallyandsocially responsibledevelopment.
Thereisalreadyasignificantshortageoflithiumas increaseddemandgrowswithinnewsecuresupplychains forlithiumbatterymaterialsforelectricvehicles.From 2006-2014,thepotentialtocreaterareearthfromtheBasal Zonewashighlydiscussed.
In2019,AvalonandCheetahResourcesPvtLtdshook handsuponanagreementwhereCheetahattainedthe surfaceoftheT-ZoneandTardifZonewithlightearth resourcesforC$5millionandkepta100%interestinthe BasalZoneforpotentialdevelopment.
Theworkprogramcarriedoutin2001confirmedthe presenceofsubstantialcesiumandtantalummineralization associatedwithlithiuminthefieldofpegmatitedykes. Furthermore,onedykewasfoundtocontainrichcesium mineralization.Drillingidentifiesapreliminaryresourceof 340,000tonnesat2.294%CS2Oand0.037%Ta2O5with noteworthyroomforexpansion.Thiswasrevivedby Avalonin2020withasamplingprogramfocusedoncesium potential.Pasttestworkhasshownaneffectiveprocess usingsensor-basedoresortingtoconcentratetherare cesiummineralpollucite.
Duetotheshortsupplyofcesium,nowtheprocessofnew technologyandnewcesiumproductionneedstomeetthe increasingdemandasthepriceshaveraisedwiththe increasingdemand.Follow-upgeologicalandgeochemical surveyswereconductedin2021,whichsuccessfully definedtotalcesiumaimsforfuturedrilling.
In1997,theSeparationofFleetLithiumProjectdiscovered aminimumof10milliontonnesandwasacquiredby Avalon.Itisunusualinthatitisfortifiedwiththerarehighpuritylithiummineralpetalite,whichhaslongbeenin demandforhigh-techglass-ceramicapplications.Itisa potentialproducerofbothpetalitesforglassceramicsand
lithiumhydroxideforbatteryapplications.
InApril2022,AvalonenteredanLOIwithEssarGroupin collaborationforthedevelopmentofaregionallithium batterymaterialsrefineryinOntario,ThunderBay.Itwould processlithiummineralconcentratesfromotherproducers fromthemanypegmatitesthatoccurinnorthwestOntario.
Avalonhasastrongappealinthepetaliteproductlinefor high-strengthglassandceramicproducts.Withthegrowing ceramicindustrythroughtheinventionofnewproducts,all expectlithium,whereahighpuritylithiumaluminium silicatelikepetaliteisfrequentlythepreferredingredient forincludinglithiumintheglassformulation.
Avalonhasbeenevaluatingseveralopportunitiestoapply innovativeextractiontechnologiestorecovercritical mineralsfromhistoricminewastes,includingacidmine drainage,atclosedminesites.Someexamplesofclosed minesitesdevelopeddecadesagotorecoveronetraditional commoditywhereoreiscontainedbymanymineralsthat hadnovaluethen,butnowtheydohaveit.
Avalon'sEastKemptvilleTin-IndiumProject(currently inoperative)isanexcellentexampleofaclosedsitewhere onlytinwasproducedhistoricallybuttheresourceobtained indium,gallium,germanium,andlithium,accompaniedby copperandzinc,sitsonthesurfacein25milliontonnesof wastegeneratingacidminedrainage.
Avalonintendstoprocureandprocessa5,000-tonnebulk samplecollectedin2021andusedduringdemonstrationsof ascaled-updensemediaseparationfacility.Itwillproduce largeproductsamplesforglassandceramicmanufacturers thathaveexpressedinterestandwillbeusedforfinalizing processflowsheetsanddesignparametersforthe concentratorandtherefinery.
Thegoalistorecovertheelementsofeconomicinterestata muchlowercostcomparedtoanewminingoperationwhile fullyremediatinglong-termenvironmentalliabilities. Alongside,Avalonplanstoreactivatetheprojectassoonas itcansecuresurfacerightsfromBHP,whocontinuesto wedgeAvalon'saccesswithnoplansforreactivationof sites.
Avalon has a strong appeal in the petalite product line for high-strength glass and ceramic products.
Innovationplaysavitalroleinthemining industry.Itisatooltoimprovetheefficiency ofitsprocess,reducecosts,andmeetis crucialinexploitingnewdepositsinthemost complexscenarios.
Overthedecades,theminingindustryfaced challengingscenariosforitsoperation.Enhancing productivitytoovercomenaturalfactorslikelower gradesofore,deeperdeposits,andmorebrutal rockmasscombinedwithanincreasing environmentandsocialawarenesshasboostedthe industrytoconstantlyworktoenhancetheir processalongthewholevaluechain.
Innovationiscrucialingivingappropriate solutionstosurpassdifficulties,ensuringthe continuityandsustainabilityofminingactivity, andimprovingtheunderstandingofdynamicsand mechanismsinvolvedintheinnovationprocess whileanalyzingstatus.
Let's learn about some of the elements enhancing the mining industry!
Theanalysisoflaborproductivityisthefirst approachtounderstandingtherelevanceof innovationwithintheindustry.Technological advancementstypicallyinfluenceoutput,allowing forhigherproductionrates.Whilealsokeepingthe workforceandreducingpersonnelthrough automationprocesses.
Aseriesofotherreasonscausethechangesin laborproductivity.Naturalfactorshavea decreasingoregradeanddeepeningofdeposits, meaningamoresignificantamountofmaterialin morecomplexsituationsiseliminatedtoobtain thesamefinalmetallicoutputthatnegatively impactslaborproductivityinanaggregatedview Thediscovery,accompaniedbytheexploitationof newandbetterdeposits,affectpositivelyoverall laborproductivity
Throughinnovation,itispossibletounlockthepotentialof depositsthatweretechnicallyinfeasibletoexploitusing traditionalmethodsandincreasingproductivity Preconditioningtherockmass,forinstance,withhydraulic fracturing,confinedblasting,oracombinationofthetwo, hasmadeitpossibletoextractdeeperorebodiesinhighstressenvironments.
Innovationhasalsobeenmainlyfueledbyaddressing environmentalandsafetyconcerns.Throughprocess automationandtheuseofautonomousandsemiautonomous(remote-controlled)equipment,thegoalhas beentoremoveworkersfromessentialtasksoverthepast fewdecades.
Theminimumrequirementsformaintainingthesocial licensetooperatearecomplyingwithmorestringent environmentalregulationsandattendingtotheconcernsof localcommunities.Asaresult,thebusiness'sentirevalue chainhasbeenthefocusofinnovation,ashasthe developmentofcleanerandmoreenvironmentallyfriendly solutions.Thisisinadditiontoincreasingtheprocess's reliabilityandeffectiveness.
Sincethebeginningofindustrialization,severalchangesin productionparadigmshavetakenplace,promotedbythe surgeandapplicationofnoveltechnologies.New transformationisinprogressfromthehandofcyberphysicalsystemswithnewtechnologicaldevelopmentslike automation,IoT,AI,andanalytics.
ThefourthIndustrialRevolutionbroughtanewindustry conceptcalledIndustry4.0.Itisbasedonadvanced digitizationoftheproductionprocess.Itfunctionsina combinationofinternet-orientedtechnologies,allowing connectionbetweenintelligentsensors,machines,andIT systemsacrossthevaluechain.
Implementingcyber-physicalsystemsshouldbringbenefits, includingincreasedproductivitybyautomatingproduction anddecision-makingprocesses,improvedequipment utilization,andreducedmaintenancecosts.Althoughitis notaboutadoptingtechnologies,itwoulddemand organizationalchangesaccompaniedbyknowledgeand expertise.
Itisnoteasytodefinetheindustry'soutlookforthefuture. Theworldischangingatamuchfasterpacethanever beforerightnow.Newadvancementsarefostered consistently,influencingthewayindividualslive.The perceptionthat"weliveinadifferentworldthantheone whereourparentsgrewup"isnotentirelyaccuratein describingthecurrentstateofaffairs.
Nevertheless,intheminingsector,specifictrendsthatcan assistindescribingthisfuturescenariocanbeidentified. Themostobviousandfirstmajortechnologicalshiftoccurs acrossallindustries:asthetransitiontothedigitalera,the so-calledFourthIndustrialRevolution,orIndustry4.0. Thenenvironmentalandsocialconcernshavealready compelledminingtolookforsafer,moreeffective,and sustainablebusinesspractices.
ThewaveofdigitizationofprocessesadvancesinIoTwith real-timedatacapturing,andminingoperationshave enormousdataavailableregardingproduction,processes, andperformanceofmachines,amongothers.
Withadvancedanalyticsmethods,itispossibletotransform thisinformationallowingitsuseforbetterplanningof activitiestosupportfastandeffectivedecision-making processesforoperation.
Predictivemodelscanalsobedevelopedtoenhance equipmentmaintenance,thusimprovingproductivity.These methodscouldbeexpectedtooptimizeprospectionand explorationactivities,reducingcostsand,mostimportantly, improvingaccuracy
Thesignificanceofstrengtheningtheminingindustryasa criticalfactorinimprovinglaborproductivityoverthepast decadeswasexamined.Miningcompaniestypicallyhave lowlevelsofR&Dintensity,comparabletomature industriesandfarfromhigh-techfirms.Werelyprimarily onequipmentmanufacturersandsupplierstodevelop innovativesolutions.
-ShreyasiShelke
Companiesaroundtheworld,initiallywaryofwork-
from-homepoliciesattheonsetoftheCOVID-19 pandemic,seemedtobeleaningtowardsadopting remoteworkingfull-time,butmanyhavenowmadea completeU-turn,namingproductivityasamajorfactor.If, however,youareinStartupland,youmaylookatthisasa goldenopportunitythatwouldpreviouslyhavebeen frownedupon.
Bokafix,afast-growingstartupthatthisyearwilllaunchits appforbookingtradespeopleondemandforhome improvementsandrepairs,isaproponentofremote working,especiallyforcompaniesthatarejustgetting started.
“Althoughworkingsidebysideinanofficeenvironment mightseemideal,onamorestreamlinedbudgetwhenwe aretryingtobuildaproductandgrowwithoutoutside investment,remoteworkingiscrucial.However,ithasto bedoneintherightway.Thingslikeregularstand-ups, quickcatch-upsoverSlack,andshowingyourteamtrust andflexibilityarekeytosuccess,”BokafixCEO,Natascha Cox.
Datashowsthatemployeesdonotneedtobeintheofficeto beproductive.Infact,studiesshowthatemployeeswho workfromhomeareevenmoreproductivethanthosewho workinanoffice.Remoteemployeescanincrease productivitybymorethan77%asopposedtotheirinpersoncounterparts.
Someemployersaredevelopingproductivityparanoiaand areworriedthattheirremotestaffwillnothavethesame outputasin-personemployees.Thedata,however,proves theyshouldbemoreworriedabouttheirin-person workforce.Whilethosewhoworkfromhometakelonger breaks,22minutesversus18minutes,theyworkanextra 10minutesaday.Nottomention,in-personemployeesare unproductiveforanaverageof37minutesperday,not includingdesignatedbreaks.
Researchershavealsofoundthatemployeeswhoare remote-capablebutforcedtoworkintheoffice“have significantlyloweremployeeengagement,alongsidehigher burnoutanddesiretoquit.Theysimplydonotfeelwell positionedtodotheirbestworkorlivetheirbestlife.”
Costsavingsareahugeperkoffully-remoteemployment, especiallyfornewstartups.Companiescansaveasmuchas £10,000foreveryemployeeworkingremotelyforaslittle as2-3daysperweekduetoreducedrent,increased employeeproductivity,anddecreasedburnoutrates.Major companieshavebenefittedfromaremoteworkmodel, includingSunMicrosystems,whichsaves£60million annuallyinitsrealestatecosts.
Notonlydoesworkingfromhomecutcosts,butitcan actuallyboostrevenue.Moreandmoreremoteworkersare hittingwhat’scalledthe“triplepeak”-loggingadditional hourspasttraditionalbusinesshoursfromthecomfortof theirhomes.
Companiessaveoncostsoutsideofrealestateaswell.Dow ChemicalandNortelreportsavingmorethan30percenton non-realestatecostswithawork-from-homemodel:
Ÿ Utilities:Theaverageutilitiescostforasmallbusiness is£1.86persquarefoot,dependingonlocationand otherfactors.Thatcanmeanspendingbetween £177£1000onaveragemonthlyfora700-square-footspace.
Ÿ CleaningServices:Smallbusinessescanexpecttopay between£12-£70perhourforcleaningservicesfor theirofficespace.
Ÿ Food:Employerswhoarefullyremotedon’thaveto worryaboutstockingthecompanyfridgeorcatering lunchmeetings.
Ÿ Taxes:Workingfromhomemeanseliminatingthe traditionalcostofpropertytaxforanofficespace.
Sixty-onepercentofpeopleworkingfromhometodayhave chosennottoreturntoin-personworkbecausethey actuallyprefertoworkremotely.Employeespointtobetter
Bokafix was founded in Sweden in 2021 by serial entrepreneur Natascha Cox and her Co-founder. Bokafix is an app that allows customers to browse and instantly books ve ed, qualified tradespeople for home repair and improvement services without the hassle of research, quotes, and long wait mes. Customer reviews make it easy to see if a Fixer has had any past issues, helping to guide the user through their decision-making process with speed, ease, and price transparency from the get-go, ensuring users have clear visibility of all costs before approving and making payment directly in the app a er the job is done.
work-lifebalance,productivity,andrelocationasthe reasonsfortheirpreference.Infact,morepeoplethanever before,78percent,wishtocontinueworkingfromhome evenafterthecoronaviruspandemicanddespitethefact thatmostcompanieshavereturnedtotheoffice.
TheNationalInstituteofHealthfoundthatworking remotelyimprovesemployeehealth,jobsatisfaction,and abilitytowork,inadditiontoreducingstress-related symptoms.Italsoimprovesworkers’feelingsofautonomy
Allthingsconsidered,businessesthatembracetheremote workmodelcanexpecttocutcosts,increaseemployee productivity,andinturn,increaseemployeesatisfactionand retentionbyimprovingwork-lifebalanceandgiving workersmoreautonomyovertheirownlives.
Theeconomicwealththatisderivedfromany
countryholdsaveryimportantpartofprogress anddevelopment,beitopen,underground,or both.Itaffectstheenvironmentonmanylevels.The adaptionofheavymachinerywithincreasedproductionhas overburdenedtheexistingenvironmentalchallengesand problems.Problemslikethatincreasegroundwater pollution,airpollution,andnoisepollution.
Thus,themanagementofthecountry'smineralresources mustbecloselyassociatedwithoveralleconomic development,environmentalprotection,andmanyother preservationstrategies.Miningprojectshaveasignificant impactonthequalityofthehumanenvironmentbeforeany projectscanbeundertakenandapproved.Miningcanalter environments,butremediationandmitigationtorestore systems.
Let's have a look at the various segments impacting the quality of mining operations and know about them!
PositivesandNegatives
Miningcanhavebothpositiveandnegativeimpactson humansandsocieties.Whilelookingatpositiveimpacts, miningisasourceoflocalemploymentandcancontribute tolocalandregionaleconomies.Remediationofpotential environmentalimpactslikewatertreatment.Ecological restorationhasapositiveneteffectonenvironmental systems.
Whenlookingatthenegativeimpactsincludehumanhealth andlivingstandards.Miningisalsoknowntoaffect traditionalpracticesofindigenouspeoplelivinginnearby communitiesandconflictsinlandandoftenobservessocial impactsonpublichealthandhumanwellbeing.Mine abandonment,decommissioning,andrepurposingcould haveapositiveandnegativesocialimpacttoo.
Themeasuresimplementedtoavoid,eliminate,reduce, control,orcompensatefornegativeimpactsandameliorate impactedsystemsarereferredtoasmitigationmeasures. Thesemeasuresneedtobeconsideredandoutlinedinterms ofenvironmentalandsocialimpacts.
Mitigationofnegativeenvironmentalimpactswithinthe system(likewaterandsoil)caninfluenceothersystems, suchasthewell-beingoflocalcommunitiesand biodiversity,inbothways,positiveandnegative, respectively
Toadheretothesemitigationmeasuresaredesignedto minimizethenegativeimpactofminingonsocialand environmentalsystems.Theymaynotalwaysbeeffective, particularlyonalongtermsbasisandacrosssystems.As mitigationisdesignedtoaffectanenvironmentalchange andknockonthedoorsofchangesinasocialsystem, researchappearstobeconductedintoeffectivenessand overviewonasystemlevelovermetalminingmitigation measures.
Mininginborealandarcticregionsaresensitivetothe impactofminingandothermining-relatedactivitieson socialandenvironmentalsystems.Thenorthernlatitudes areoftenconsideredharshand,therefore,challengingfor humanactivitiesandindustrialdevelopment.
Althoughthearticishometosubstantialmineralresources andpredominantlyfocusesonminingactivitiesinthelast th 100years,withamarkedincreaseintheearly20 century, theintensifyinginterestinexplorationaccompanies exploitationinrecentyearstomeetthegrowingglobal demandformetals.
Withtheregion'sgeologicalfeatureswithsociety'sneedfor metal,resourceextractionislikelytodominatethe discourseonthedevelopmentofnorthernlatitudesinthe
future.Asof2015,therearealmost373mineralminesacross Alaska,Canada,Greenland,Iceland,TheFaroes,Norway, Sweden,andRussia,withthetopmineralingold,iron,copper, zinc,andnickel.
Theclearingofvegetationtovegetationfromlandisusedfor dumpingoverburdenandconstructionofinfrastructure. Deforestationwhenthemineissituatedinaforestarea,with disturbanceinwildlifeandotherfaunaduetoclearing vegetation.
Noiseandvibrationsbecauseofblastingandmachine operationsdriveanimalsfromtheregionwiththeretardation ofgrowthbecauseoflowerwaterregimesandairandwater pollution.Thewatertableoftheadjoiningareagetslowered becauseoffracturescreatedintheaquiferbyunderground mining.Itharmsthegrowthofvegetationandagricultural produce.
Vegetationintheecologysupportsthecapacityofthetopsoil inthetensilezoneofsubsidingareastobeimpaired. Dischargeofpollutedwaterfromtheundergroundmineto surfacewaterbodiesaffectstheaquaticecology.
Miningisalwaystogetherwiththeenvironmentaldisorderin opencastemining.Opencastminingcontributestoland degradation,vegetationdegradationdestructionofproductive landinadditiontoaffectingriverflow,situation,water pollution,anddeforestationinmanycases.
In a nutshell,
Miningpracticeshaveseriousenvironmentalimpactsrelated towaterpollution,landdegradation,lossofbiodiversity,and airpollution.Increaseinhealth-relatedproblems,noise pollutionandvibration,landsubsidence,landslides,and surfaceandgroundwaterpollutionofsignificantimpactsof miningactivity.
Ithastobemandatoryforallminingactivitiestakingplaceon bothlargeandsmallscalestosubmitatrueenvironmental impactassessmentreporttogetamininglicense.Government muststrictlyimplementtheact "The Environmental Protection Act 1986" inallminesectorsandappointinspectionofficersto checkwhethermineholdersarefollowingtheact.
TheworldhasevolvedalotsincetheIndustrial
revolutionintermsofcoalmining,consideringit tobetheprimaryenergysourceforindustrialareas andtransportation.Butintheentirerevolutiontilldate,the primarysourceofenergyremainsconstant,whichisCoal.
Withtheinventionofnewtechnologies,thecoalmining industryhasgrownincapabilitiescoveringalltheaspects ofexplorationandminingactivities.
th Inthe17 century,thefirstcoalminingexperimentswere carriedout,andsincethen,therehavebeenrapidchangesin theminingprocess.Automatedtoolswithemerging technologiesarebeingintegratedinthepresenttimeto transformthefutureoftheminingindustry
AnAustralian-basedGlobalConsultingFirm,MECMining, startedusingautomatedtoolsandnewtechnologiesby implyingAIintheminingindustrytoprovidewell-placed supporttotheirclientsbytransformingtheiroperations.
ConcerningAdvancingSustainableMining,MECMiningis providingnew,cleaner,andmoreefficientmethodsof operations,asthisisthefutureofminingtominimizethe environmentaleffects.
WiththeleadershipofChristoferCatania,CEO,hestates aboutthefoundersDanielChippendale,SimonCohn,and TedBoultonimplyingfirst-handknowledgeofthemining industryandthechallengesownersencounterwhile
implementingaprojectbecausetheywereminingengineers withpracticalexperience.
WhentheyfoundedMECMining,theycreatedateamthat wasfocusedonspeakingwithandworkingtogetherwith clientstogivethemostindividualizedsolutionstoeach challenge.
So let’s unfold the journey of the founders in MEC Mining and learn more about their experience through the interview highlights below:
Pleasedescribeyourfirmindetail.
MECMiningisanAustralian-based,globalconsultingfirm thatspecializesinminetechnicalservicescapabilities acrosstheprojectlifecycle,fromexplorationandearlystagedevelopmenttomineclosureandrehabilitation.Our GeotechnicalEngineers,MiningEngineers,andGeologists supportclientsfrombothopen-cutandundergroundmining acrossabroadrangeofcommodities.
Whatwasyourinspirationbehindventuringintothe miningindustry?
Asminingengineerswithreal-worldexperience,our foundersDanielChippendale,SimonCohn,andTed
World’s Best Mining Companies to watch in 2022
Boulton,hadafirst-handunderstandingofthemining landscapeandthepitfallsthatownersfaceinexecutinga project.WhenestablishingMECMining,they built a team focusing on communicating and collaborating with clients to deliver the best-tailored resolutions to each problem. Thishasremainedthecompany’svisionandmission.
Tellusaboutyourcompany’sjourneyinthemining sector.
Establishedin2005inBrisbane,thecompany,which initiallyofferedtechnicalsupporttoAustralianmining companieswithincoal,hassincegrowninresponseto demandfromclientslocallyandinternationallyandnow servicesboth metalliferous and coal mining organizations. In2021,ChrisCataniawasappointedChiefExecutive Officeraspartofthecompany’sorganizationalre-structure tofacilitateMEC’sacceleratedgrowthtrajectory That growthincludedthecreationofadvisoryandgeotechnical businessunitsandtheestablishmentofofficesinPerthto betterserveourWesternAustralianclientele.
Earlierthisyear,MECMiningalsoacquiredIntegrated GeologicalMiningServices(IGMS).Theestablishedfirm, basedinFremantle,WesternAustralia,furtherbolsteredour growingcapabilitiestocoverallaspectsofexplorationand miningactivities.
Anotherinitiativeofwhichweareimmenselyproudsaw thecreationofMEC’sMiningGraduateProgram,which fostersandsupportsnewgraduatesintheircareerswithus. Wealsorecentlywelcomedourindustrypartnershipwith AusIMM,whichwillfurtheradvocateforbestpracticesand technicalexcellenceinthesector.Arealcommitmentto ongoinglearningseesushostingregulartechnicaltalksto supportandpromotebestpracticesandtechnicalcapabilitiesacrossourteam.Thisnotonlyenhancesourteam’s personalgrowthandknowledgebutvalue-addstothe industrywhenourconsultantssharethisknowledgewith clients.
Whatweretheinitialchallengesyoufacedwhile venturingintotheminingindustry?
Asacoreteamwithexcellentindustryconnections,we quicklyestablishedreputationsasknowledgeableand reliableconsultantsamongourclientsand,importantly, excellentcommunicatorswhowerewillingto‘gettheir handsdirtytosolveclientsproblems.’But,likemany others,thecompanyfacedthevolatilityoftheindustryand hadtobecomeadeptatbeingflexibletosupportthevarying demandsofclients.Itwasoursuccessinthisareathat encouragedandenabledcompanygrowth.
WhataretheUSPsthathighlightyour brand/company’suniquenessasaleadingnameinthe miningniche?
Ourvaluepropositionextendsfromourcorevaluesof quality,impact,andrelationships.AtMEC,wehaveateam ofinnovative,creativethinkerswhosebroadspectrumof skillsandexperiencescomplementandsupporteachother anddelivermaximumbenefitforourclients.Ourteam membershavebeenselectedanddevelopedasexpertsin theirfieldandareconsideredamongstthebestinthe industry.Theycomefromdiversebackgroundsandbringa passionforcontinuouslearning,bothfromeachotherand fromtheprojectsinwhichtheyareinvolved.Their commitmenttodeliveringvaluebeyondclientexpectations isauniquequalityandisatthecoreofourteam.
Regardlessofposition,manager,orCEO,allinputisnot onlyvaluedbutinvitedbecausecommunicationliesatthe heartofwhatwedo.Hearingourclients, listening to clients, and responding rather than reacting to their problems orimposingsolutions,meanswedeliverand developenduringrelationships.
Built a team, focusing on communicating and collaborating with clients to deliver the best-tailored resolutions to each problem.
There is a consensus that Climate Change is the number 1 strategic threat to our mining industry. It is cri cal for players to understand the changing paradigms around this issue to ensure that they not only have con nuity of opera ons through vola le climates but also have a strong understanding of how the stakeholder expecta ons are changing and how they must respond.
Sustainable mining in the future will require players to minimize their environmental and ethical footprint through decarboniza on, water and waste management, and forging strong rela onships with open and transparent communica on channels across indigenous communi es, government, investors, as well as communi es in the general public.
But, as with any significant change, shi ing behaviors to achieve environmental and social governance will require suppor ve mechanisms to enable the transi on and a good degree of resilience. The journey to achieve ESG guidelines also needs to be defined as part of a company’s long-term purpose and its economic case. It’s important to integrate sustainability into every employee’s job, including the company board. The financial benefits of conserva on need to be well communicated so that each individual sees environmental sustainability as not only a business requirement but as a personal responsibility. The moves will encourage greater transparency and accountability from the industry and a more developed and open engagement with the public.
Already there are numerous official and industry resources being made available to move to sustainable mining prac ces, and it is clear that, when implemented, the benefits to employees, communi es and the planet will be there and not necessarily at the expense of produc vity or profitability.
MEC Mining is already providing support to clients who are proac vely planning, and the overwhelming sen ment is one of posi vity in embracing change. The happy collision of this move with the growth of new technologies means that AI, EBV, and hydrogen vehicles, for example, will provide new, cleaner, and more efficient methods of opera on for the sector. And, while cost is an inevitable and important considera on, small incremental changes will deliver results in the first instance.
Asanexperiencedprofessional,whatwouldyouliketo advisethebuddingaspirantswillingtoenterthemining sector?
Aspirantsareenteringanexcitingandcrucialindustry.In ourGraduateDevelopmentProgram, we advocate a holistic approach with a 70:20:10 formula:
Ÿ 70%oflearninghappensonthejob,e.g.,projectwork, dailytasks,jobshadowing
Ÿ 20%oflearninghappensthroughothers,e.g.,manager/mentorsupport
Ÿ 10%oflearninghappensthroughformallearning,e.g., workshops,courses(formalandonline)
Howdoyouenvisionyourcompany’soperationswith theemergingtechnologiesandautomatedtoolsthatare revolutionizingtheminingindustry?
Ourteamisexcitedbytheburgeoningnewtechnologies andtheimplicationsofAIforthefutureofminingandis hungrytoexplorewaysitcanimpactthefutureofmining. Thismeansthatwearewell-placedtosupportourclientsas theyconsiderif,when,andhowtheywillembracethenew technologiestotransformtheiroperations.Indeed,our consultantsarenotonlyalreadyengagedinthesediscussionsbutaredeliveringonlinesessionstodisseminate informationabouthowtointegrateemerginginnovations intominingtechnicalservicepracticestoday.
