Environmental Reporting Software for Emissions Cloud-based and Automated Emissions Reporting, Improved Compliance

Economic Development Solutions (EDS) sees a compelling business case for the adoption of a cloud-based automated measuring and monitoring system of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in contemporary mining. Recently, the multidisciplinary consultancy launched a mining-specific cloud-based automated measuring and monitoring system, which will help mining companies to manage and report on these harmful emissions.

Currently, buoyed by favourable commodity prices, mining companies are increasing production to get as much revenue as they can. Inevitably, in pursuit of this, their process plants are producing more Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Usually, this increases their tax burden and reporting obligation attributable to GHG emissions. For this reason, access to reliable data is vital.

Unfortunately, inherent setbacks are frequently encountered when traditional techniques are used for collecting, managing, and monitoring data. Inescapably, the unreliable data gathered results in poor emissions reporting. In this context, reference to traditional techniques is manual and by means of insecure and inaccurate data on spreadsheets.

Certainly, suitable techniques or tools must be used. Fortunately, so far, where they have been deployed in harsh environments, automated cloud-based measurement and reporting systems have excelled, enabling compliance with the regulation. So, EDS (Economic Development Solutions) sees a compelling business case for mining companies in adopting them. Recently, the company unveiled a cloud-based system specific to the requirements as laid down by the South African carbon tax act.

A necessity, not a luxury

Usually, mining companies tend to be conservative when it comes to embracing new technologies or methods, with cost implications being a determining factor. Nevertheless, the team at EDS involved in the system’s deployment firmly believes that there should be no doubt that a cloud-based automated system is a necessity, not a luxury. This is given that, in the current environment, the challenges encountered with traditional techniques far outweigh the supposed benefits.

Challenges of traditional techniques

In an atmosphere of increased production, the limitations of traditional methods when applied to the complex structure or nature of mining operations have become very evident. This is given the typical complex structure or nature of mining operations.

Normally, mining operations are highly complex operations that are composed of many interdependent activities, each of which has a data collection, capturing, monitoring, and reporting requirement. So, effective ESG reporting is critical.

Ideally, effective reporting should include supply chain, outsourced operations, in-house processing, as well as transport logistics. Yet, more often than not, constraints are experienced when using traditional techniques to perform vital measurement and monitoring tasks. Eckart Zollner, Head of Business Development at EDS, narrates a familiar scenario: “As data volumes grow, with increased production, data capturing and data analysis suffer from delays and inaccuracies. Consequently, mining companies will find it hard to keep reporting accurate and on time.”

In a word, traditional data collection and reporting methods are time-consuming, prone to human error, and hard to scale with increased production. As you would expect, the odds of noncompliance are always high.

Cloud-based automated measurement and reporting system

In contrast, there should be no question that, when deployed correctly, an automated measurement and reporting system redresses the inherent limitations of traditional techniques, filling the void.

In demonstrating the significance of cloudbased automated measurement and monitoring, Zollner mentions automation and consolidation as features that make EDS’s solution as the perfect fit.

“Thanks to its scope of capabilities, the cloud-based system allows the automation of data capturing, analysis, monitoring, and reporting across an unlimited number of data input sources. Moreover, it can be consolidated to provide a complete overview of reporting and data visualisation across many layers of activities inside the organisation,” he explains. In a nutshell, mostly importantly, the cloudbased solution provides visibility across multiple elements as well as a responsible parent entity.

Achieving compliance and optimal operational performance

Ultimately, through implementing the cloudbased system, the team at EDS is confident that mining companies will simplify the complex tasks of environmental monitoring and measurement, achieving compliance and optimal operational performance. They are committed to replicating the success registered in deploying the consultancy’s other core solutions to mining companies in the area of environmental monitoring and measurement.

Based in Johannesburg, the EDS team members have over 35 years of collective experience within the B-BBEE, Economic Transformation, Strategy, Business Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Compliance Reporting, and Project Management sphere.

Fully customisable and configurable

While all mining operations are by their nature complex, in reality, every mine is unique, and so are the challenges it faces, with emissions monitoring and measuring being no exception.

Relating to measuring and monitoring, inherently, mining companies have different needs. Given that, Zollner assures mining companies that EDS’s system is fully customisable and configurable concerning the specific input data, processes, and materials deployed. “Clients have two options. First, they can be trained in the configuration themselves or work with a third party. Another way is to work with a thirdparty consultant to assist in the configuration and dynamic adaptation of the data sources in line with any potential material or process fluctuations,” he indicates.