Mining - July 2022

CEOs in the industry

July 2022 | miningglobal.com

Digital Mining: The race to electrification

Industry X: How visual aids provide better data and measurement Technology: Robots and sensors spot deep mining problems

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The Mining Team EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DOMINIC ELLIS TOM SWALLOW EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

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FOREWORD

Preparing for the electrification S curve “Blockchain traceability is key to carbon neutrality, reducing emissions and meeting ethical considerations

The mining industry needs to step up exploration to get on the steep part of the 'S curve' for the electrification mega-trends, according to Huw McKay, VP, Market Analysis & Economics at BHP. None of the key metals is scarce, but what is in short supply are units of high-grade metal which can be extracted affordably.

The other key competing demand is the need to decarbonise consistently at scale – and at unprecedented speed.

His colleague, CCO Vandita Pant, said blockchain traceability is key to carbon neutrality, reducing emissions and meeting ethical considerations. The provenance and carbon emission of products are now critical, as the supply chain takes on greater scrutiny.

Some executives may still see mining, sustainability and technology in their silos but the reality is they are integrating ever more each day.

Those who take a holistic view should be better equipped to navigate the S curve.

Enjoy the issue.

MINING MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY

DOMINIC ELLIS

dominic.ellis@bizclikmedia.com

© 2022 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

miningdigital.com

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CONTENTS

Our Regular Upfront Section: 10 Big Picture 12 The Brief 14 Timeline: Major mining tailings incidents 16 Trailblazer: Mark Cutifani 18 Five Minutes With: Natalie Henley

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Digital Mining

The race to electrification

22

48

Mining is a model organisation for ESG compliance

Hindustan Zinc’s successful digital sustainability journey

Calibre Mining Corp

Hindustan Zinc

60

68

How visual aids provide better data and measurement

Robots and sensors spot deep mining problems

Industry X

Technology

CEOS

76

Supply Chain

Plotting the long journey to sustainability

84

Top 10

CEOs in the mining industry

12 - 13 OCT 2022 STREAMED & IN PERSON QEII CENTRE, LONDON

THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL PROCUREMENT 3,000+

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Join us at PROCUREMENT & SUPPLYCHAIN LIVE LONDON Showcase your values, products and services to your partners and customers at PROCUREMENT & SUPPLYCHAIN LIVE LONDON 2022.

Brought to you by BizClik Media Group PROCUREMENT & SUPPLYCHAIN LIVE LONDON, the hybrid event held between 12th-13th October is broadcast live to the world and incorporates two zone areas of SupplyChain LIVE plus Procurement LIVE in to one event.

With a comprehensive content programme featuring senior industry leaders and expert analysts, this is an opportunity to put yourself and your brand in front of key industry decision makers.

Get tickets

From keynote addresses to lively roundtables, fireside discussions to topical presentations, Q&A sessions to 1-2-1 networking, the 2-day hybrid show is an essential deep dive into issues impacting the future of each industry today.

Global giants and innovative startups will all find the perfect platform with direct access to an engaged and active audience. You can’t afford to miss this opportunity.

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BIG PICTURE

10

July 2022

Blackwater Gold Project Canada

Artemis Gold recently executed fleet supply agreements with Finning (Canada) for its Blackwater Gold Project in Central British Columbia. The project features 8mn oz of gold reserves and 60mn oz of silver reserves.

miningdigital.com

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THE BRIEF “The Charge On Innovation Challenge is a great example of the current collaborative work being done to reimagine traditional models and relationships” James Agar

Group Procurement Officer, BHP  READ MORE

“3D LiDAR-based volume measurement can enable accurate production and material level tracking to prevent stockouts and overstock situations” Dr. Florian Petit Co-founder, Blickfeld 

READ MORE

“The ability to ‘smell’ for hazardous gas detection from our new robot dog is very exciting” Rethabile Letlala

Operations Director, Dwyka Mining Services  READ MORE

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July 2022

BY THE NUMBERS How many materials does the EU need for the clean energy transition?

The EU target of zeroing out emissions by 2050 would require around 35% more copper and aluminium than today, and around 45% more silicon – a key component in solar panels.

At the same time, lithium demand could grow by 35 times to more than 800,000 tons, with as much as 26 times more rare earth elements needed; cobalt and nickel demand could rise by 330% and 100%, respectively.

China’s new coal mines could emit 6MT of methane a year China’s new coal mines have the potential to emit 6Mt of methane each year if they proceed as planned, according to a Global Energy Monitor report.

China has 559 Mtpa of new coal mine proposals under development, which is equivalent to the output of Indonesia (564 Mtpa) – the world’s third largest coal producer.

READ MORE

Gold Fields buys Yamana Gold for $6.7bn Background Gold Fields is to buy Yamana Gold in an all-share offer valued at $6.7bn. The transaction, expected to close in the second half of 2022, will see Gold Fields and Yamana shareholders own approximately 61% and 39% of the combined group, respectively.

 COPPER MOUNTAIN MINING Having received the Environmental Excellence Award in recognition of its Electric Trolley Assist Project, which is focused on reducing carbon intensity and minimising environmental impact.

How significant is the deal?

The acquisition creates a top four global gold major and provides Gold Fields with a more diversified portfolio.

The new entity will have a market capitalisation of $15.9bn and feature 14 operating assets with 81mn oz of gold reserves, according to a newly launched website.

 ENERGY FUELS US-based uranium mining company Energy Fuels is buying 17 mineral concessions from private mineral rights holders in Brazil.

Which Yamana Gold asset join Gold Fields’ portfolio?

There are four key ones: Canadian Malartic (Canada), El Penon (Chile), Jacobina (Brazil) and MARA (Argentina).

 EMMERSON Potash miner Emmerson has announced a deepening loss of $2.7mn for 2021, down from a $1.9mn loss in 2020.

What is the strategic rationale to the deal?

Chris Griffith, CEO of Gold Fields, said the acquisition brings together two companies with complementary portfolios, cultures and strategic priorities.

The result is a combination with much greater capacity and potential value than the sum of its parts, enabling the supergroup to enhance its assets more efficiently over the long-term than they could as separate companies.

What is Gold Fields’ sustainability targets?

Gold Fields is aiming for a 50% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050. It is also targeting 80% recycled/reusable water by 2030.

 SOLGOLD Jason Ward has resigned as Executive Director of SolGold with immediate effect, after year-on-year quarterly losses nearly doubled to $9.2mn.

W I N N E R S JUL22

L O S E R S miningdigital.com

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TIMELINE

MAJOR MININ TAILINGS INC Current mining industry standards do not go far enough to adequately protect communities and ecosystems from the consequences of tailings failures, according to a new Earthworks report. Here is a timeline of recent major incidents.

Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley gold-copper mine

Samarco iron mine in Mariana, Brazil

Córrego do Feijão mine

On August 4, 2014, the tailings dam of Imperial Metals Corp’s Mount Polley copper and gold mine near Likely, British Columbia, Canada, failed, releasing 7.3mn cu/m of tailings, 10.6mn cu/m of water, and 6.5mn cu/m of interstitial water into the environment.

On 5 November 2015, a huge tailings dam operated

by Brazilian mining company Samarco collapsed, causing a tidal wave of 32m-40m cu/m of mining waste to wash across valleys, villages and farmland, covering houses in the town of Bento Rodrigues.

A dam at the Córrego do Feijão mine – owned by Vale in Brumadinho, Brazil – collapsed, releasing about 9.7mn cu/m of tailings. The mine waste travelled 8km over land, killed over 272 people, destroyed houses and buildings, and eventually flowed into the Paraopeba River.

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July 2022

NG CIDENTS Brumadinho dam collapse

Mining waste and commodities demand

The 2019 mine tailings dam collapse near Brumadinho, Brazil, killed 272 people and decimated houses and buildings stretching for kilometres ,before flowing into the Paraopeba River.

Current trends suggest an additional 2-to-10-fold increase in the demand for many commodities – particularly those needed for energy transition technologies – by 2060.

Earthworks states that these trends “are not sustainable”.

miningdigital.com

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TRAILBLAZER

M Cu

Mark utifani Cutifani departs Anglo American on an investment high

I

n April, Mark Cutifani stepped down as Chief Executive of Anglo American.

Cutifani was appointed to his leadership position on April 3, 2013.

During the last nine years, he has ensured the mining giant kept a tight rein on costs while capitalising on commodity booms – and, judging by the timing of his departure, with shares touching a 20-year high, his record is likely to be viewed favourably.

Cutifani’s main achievement is holding Anglo American together through some interesting times and, broadly speaking, managing “to keep it out of the kinds of ESG and political trouble that Rio Tinto, BHP, and Glencore periodically run into”, according to Proactive Investors.

He oversaw transformational improvements via its P101 and FutureSmart Mining programmes, both of which aim to drive operations towards carbon neutrality before 2040.

Latterly, he proactively managed the health, social and economic effects of the pandemic,

considering the “entire ecosystem of [our] business”, acknowledging that operations and host communities must both be healthy to prosper on a sustainable basis.

Cutifani saw a material opportunity for Anglo American to set itself apart, in terms of the performance of its diversified business – further enhanced through 25% projected volume growth over the next three years, led by copper and platinum group metals.

Prior to his move to Angle American, Cutifani was – from 2007 – CEO of AngloGold Ashanti, the South Africabased gold producer. Here, he led the successful restructuring and development of its business, which includes operations in 10 countries on four continents.

Previously, he was also the Chief Operating Officer of CVRD Inco, the Canadian nickel company.

He started his career in the coal and gold mining industries in Australia, cultivating experience across a wide range of commodities, and he also holds a degree in Mining Engineering. miningdigital.com

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FIVE MINUTES WITH...

Sales Associate at Remote Medical International reflect on the challenges of the pandemic and importance of medical care in remote areas

Q. HOW DID THE PANDEMIC IMPACT WORKING CONDITIONS IN REMOTE MINING AREAS?

» The challenges of ensuring safe

working conditions and providing medical care for on-site teams were exacerbated across the mining industry. Whether you’re mining for gold in the heat of the Arizona desert, face drilling in a coal mine in Columbia, or extracting platinum 18

July 2022

in Zimbabwe, mining locations are inherently dangerous and isolated and, with the added risk of COVID-19 infection, demand for investment in robust medical care for personnel to minimise downtime and injuries has risen.

Q. HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES?

» Each worksite presents its own

unique set of obstacles and threats, and requires a tailored approach based on the specific circumstances. At Remote Medical International (RMI), our specialist teams develop and deliver bespoke health and medical services, from risk assessments to permanent

on-site medical teams, to hazardous client work sites across the world.

Q. WHAT WAYS CAN YOU MINIMISE RISK ONSITE?

» Wherever the location, minimising

risk and safeguarding workers is a priority and, over the last 20 years, our medical teams have become highly valued members of our mining clients’ teams and have become integral to the overall health and wellbeing of their personnel, as they are on hand to provide rapid first response and emergency care. Our medical facilities can be temporarily or permanently integrated into a site, or operate in mobile structures.

Q. HOW IMPORTANT ARE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS?

» All mining sites – even those

located within reach of a hospital – should have a Medical Emergency Response Plan. This plan should typically outline referral facilities and their respective capabilities to treat a wide variety of health emergencies, and should specify how to transport patients to these places, which could be either by road or by air. This ensures no time is lost in the event of an emergency medical situation. miningdigital.com

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MINING IS A MODEL ORGANISATION FOR ESG COMPLIANCE WRITTEN BY: TOM SWALLOW

22

July 2022

PRODUCED BY: ASHLEY KIRBY

CALIBRE MINING

miningdigital.com

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CALIBRE MINING

Petri Salopera shares Calibre

Mining’s approach to environmental, social and governance across operations in the Americas and a sustainable partner network

M

ining is in a state of flux. Technology is shifting toward being either modular or remote; global demand for minerals and precious metals continues to increase; and fossil fuels, such as coal, will soon be obsolete. Within this context, mining is experiencing a complete overhaul that will shape the industry for a more sustainable future.

The mining of gold and other precious resources is under the spotlight for its intrusive nature. Leaders within the mining sector have been assigned what some deem to be a nigh-impossible task: finding a balance between productivity and compliance with high environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.

The Americas are significant contributors to the industry. There are an astonishing 13,000 active mines in the United States, and even more in Latin America. Calibre Mining’s operations span Nicaragua and the western US state of Nevada. The Canadian-listed company produced 182,755 ounces of gold in 2021 and continues to increase its ounces as it looks toward the future.

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July 2022

CALIBRE MINING

miningdigital.com

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Minery specialists with safety, environmental protection and quality.

Canchanya Ingenieros S.R.L - Peruvian company, established in 1993, specialist in the execution of works and comprehensive maintenance of underground and surface mining.

We operate in Peruvian and Nicaraguan territory with international certificates.

contactos@cis.com.pe | hcanchanya@cis.com.pe

Learn more

CALIBRE MINING

Calibre operates the Pan Mine in Nevada and El Limon, La Libertad and Pavon mines in Nicaragua. Seeking to increase production, one of the company’s latest endeavours is the Eastern Borosi project, located in the Atlantic region of Nicaragua and scheduled to enter into production in 2023.

Petri Salopera, Vice President of Sustainability for Calibre Mining, is keen to share the company’s achievements as an advocate for corporate social responsibility. Salopera himself is responsible for overseeing Calibre’s overall sustainability performance in relation to ESG across its operations.

“ Mining is fundamental for the future of our planet” PETRI SALOPERA

VP SUSTAINABILITY, CALIBRE MINING

Originally from Finland, Salopera has lived in South America for most of his life. He is familiar with Latin American culture and fluent in Spanish, which was beneficial when he joined Calibre in 2021 and entered into what was, for him, new jurisdictions.

“The biggest challenge must have been the new jurisdictions,” says Salopera.

“I have worked in Latin America for almost 30 years, but I had never been to Nicaragua before. Fortunately, our team there is highly experienced and engaged, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with them.

They have contributed to my experience, and I have learned from them. In Nevada, we have a small but very strong team. This allowed for a quick and solid incorporation of the Nevada operations into our overall sustainability framework.”

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CALIBRE MINING

While the company’s primary function is clear –to produce gold– Salopera also emphasises Calibre’s operational focus on sustainability and on creating value responsibly for those invested in the company’s actions.

“We are focused on delivering sustainable value for shareholders, local communities and all our stakeholders through responsible operations and a disciplined approach to growth,” Salopera says.

“At Calibre, I saw a fantastic opportunity to be part of a very dynamic mining company and its executive leadership team. What attracted me most, however, was Calibre’s interest in the sustainable development of its host communities, and its strong commitment to doing the right thing, both environmentally and socially, at all times.”

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July 2022

Thanks to the culture of sustainability and commitment to ESG that Calibre promotes across its workforce, Salopera’s job is enhanced that much more as he works with professional, trustworthy teams that have expressed their positivity toward the company’s core values. Employees understand the importance of the surrounding communities and, therefore, focus on providing social support where possible, alongside efforts to influence reforestation programs and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Calibre is a member of the World Gold Council (WGC) and committed to becoming fully compliant with the WGC’s Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMPs) by 2023. The company is also committed to reporting its position and progress on climate-related

CALIBRE MINING

EXECUTIVE BIO PETRI SALOPERA TITLE: VP SUSTAINABILITY LOCATION: SANTIAGO, CHILE Petri Salopera, Vice President of Sustainability, Calibre Mining Corp: He has held senior executive positions at Goldcorp, Rio Tinto, BHP and most recently as Country Manager - Ecuador and Chile for Newcrest Mining. He brings extensive field experience in Latin America on community relations, environment, sustainability, government relations and media. His wide range of expertise also includes other private sector entities, academia, and non-governmental organisations.

Petri obtained a Masters in Anthropology, Development and Latin American Studies from the University of Helsinki, Finland, and other postgraduate studies from the Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, Australia.

CALIBRE MINING

risks, in line with recommendations of the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Five-year strategy for sustainable mining practices Calibre has fully planned out its sustainability strategy for the next five years, and it is through this plan that Calibre will continue to promote its ideals in terms of responsible operations.

Covering the period of 2022 to 2026, this fiveyear sustainability strategy also incorporates the interests and actions of external stakeholders, such as local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and public authorities.

“The objective is to improve Calibre’s sustainability performance even further, ensuring a culture of internal best practices,

including our strategic business partners,” says Salopera.

It also involves “contributions to the sustainability of our host communities beyond traditional mining activities, and connecting with efforts to safeguard the future through investments in favour of overcoming global challenges.”

To achieve these goals, Calibre Mining will reiterate its collaborative approach across all areas of planning, execution, and evaluation of mining performance. Cooperation with stakeholders will set a precedent for the company to follow as it aims to meet the needs of all individuals and organisations that engage within the industry. miningdigital.com

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CALIBRE MINING

“ We are focused on delivering sustainable value for shareholders, local communities and all our stakeholders through responsible operations” PETRI SALOPERA

VP SUSTAINABILITY, CALIBRE MINING

According to Salopera: “We really hope to make important contributions to the quality of life of our host communities and their environment, which is especially important in jurisdictions like Nicaragua, where our social licence to operate and grow depends on our success in all aspects of ESG.” “2022 is the year we will set the stage for our sustainability journey,” Salopera says. “It will require an understanding of where we are and where we are headed, responsibly. We will focus on meeting higher operational standards from 2023 to 2025 and finally, in 2026, we expect to lead the way among our peers as a frontrunner in sustainability.”

In the grand scheme of things, to meet its objectives Calibre will require a significant level of input from its team, as well as collaboration with other entities.

The company will lean on its partners in areas where specific expertise is required.

Ensuring that partnerships are aligned with the company’s dedication to ESG is 32

July 2022

CALIBRE MINING

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LEARN MORE

CALIBRE MINING

Governed by social responsibility Social responsibility is a key part of Calibre Mining’s sustainability strategy. The company is governed by its Social Responsibility Policy, which outlines the respectful nature of the organisation and its positive commitment to those impacted by its mining work.

Calibre’s community engagement has changed the lives of many within the vicinity of its sites in Nicaragua. Established performance standards for community engagement govern the miner’s ability

to meet best practices, as set out by the International Finance Corporation and the World Gold Council, and aligned with those of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Through its due diligence procedures, Calibre is well-educated on its surrounding communities. This enabled the company to carry out successful resettlement projects in both the Cedabilla and Santa Pancha – Pozo 7 communities located in the Limon Mining District.

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CALIBRE MINING

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July 2022

CALIBRE MINING

“ The response of our principal partners has been very positive” PETRI SALOPERA

VP SUSTAINABILITY, CALIBRE MINING

a major factor in building long-standing relationships with other businesses.

Salopera explains that, “before starting any alliance, we take all partners through an intensive screening process, reviewing their business, health and safety, and ESG performance. This due diligence strengthens our selection process and allows us to better understand our future partners.”

Following a successful screening, “partners and contractors are welcomed by the company into our ONE CALIBRE collective approach to ESG, which signifies that we are all united in our intentions.”

Building a social and environmental advocacy network Calibre’s principal partners have responded positively and proactively to this process, and Salopera is excited to experience cultural alignment across the entire supply chain network.

“Our collaborators’ participation has been remarkable and, together, we have been able to positively change the lives of hundreds of families – even whole communities.”

“Thanks to companies like Civil Works, Puma Energy, NIMAC, Casa Pellas and others, we are opening opportunities for people in Nicaragua and elsewhere,” Salopera says. “This cooperation cannot miningdigital.com

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July 2022

CALIBRE MINING

“I saw a fantastic opportunity to be part of a very dynamic mining company and its executive leadership team” PETRI SALOPERA

VP SUSTAINABILITY, CALIBRE MINING

be underestimated; it is a clear manifestation of our common commitment in favour of sustainability wherever we work.”

The ethos shared between Calibre and its partners will carry on into the future, integrating their best interests into ongoing and prospective projects. With this combined commitment, businesses will work with the mining company to realise its plans for the future. This translates into a positive outlook for the organisation in terms of business growth and the expansion of its sustainability approach, as it enters new jurisdictions. The collective ONE CALIBRE approach will drive even more community engagement, seeking active integration of the public in its sustainability journey.

Having worked for other major mining companies and obtained insightful knowledge of the industry, Salopera divulges what he thinks will happen in the future and the ways in which society and the climate will shape the mining industry, and vice versa.

“Mining is fundamental for the future of our planet, and mining companies like Calibre can make an essential contribution to that future,” he explains.

Deeply rooted in the Americas, Calibre Mining will continue along its current trajectory toward a better, more sustainable world for all its stakeholders, internally and externally. Maintaining social support, improving its environmental stewardship, encouraging biodiversity, and protecting source waters are just some of the areas where particular attention will be placed.

Calibre is excited to challenge the norms of traditional mining, encourage the use of renewable energy, and promote technological innovation. “Renewable energy, electromobility, new innovations — all these require our contribution. A better future can only be achieved with robust performance in sustainability, and that truly is Calibre’s business edge.”

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CHARG THE RACE TO ELECTRIFICATION Leading mining and tech companies are busy working on truck electrification to meet decarbonisation and net-zero targets WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS

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July 2022

GE ON ON GE DIGITAL MINING

T

he Charge On Innovation Challenge – founded by BHP, Rio Tinto and Vale, together with multiple industry patrons – aims to solve one of the biggest challenges in decarbonising mining operations: the electrification of haul trucks.

The eight innovators, whittled down from 350 companies and the penultimate 21 companies that made the shortlist, are ABB, Ampcontrol and Tritium (Australia), BluVein XL, DB Engineering & Consulting with Echion Technologies, Hitachi Energy, Shell Consortium, Siemens Off-board power supply, and 3ME Technology.

Diesel-powered haul truck fleets are responsible for up to 80% of a mine’s emissions, but electrifying them requires charging systems capable of delivering energy at unprecedented power levels during operations.

Developments are moving fast in the transport arena, and what is billed as the ‘world's largest zero-emission haul truck’ – which can carry up to 290 tonnes of ore

– recently made its debut (see Supply Chain article).

Next steps in Charge On Innovation Challenge Winners are collaborating with interested mining companies, OEMs and investors to accelerate the technology development to support the future roll-out of zeroemissions fleets.

BHP’s Group Procurement Officer, James Agar, says the truly global nature of the final eight technology innovators selected from across industries demonstrates the level of interest that exists to work closely with the mining industry in seeking solutions to decarbonise mining fleets.

“The Charge On Innovation Challenge is a great example of the current collaborative work being done to reimagine traditional models and relationships, which will enable innovative solutions to be designed, tested and implemented, fast-tracking the adoption of new technology,” he says. miningdigital.com

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sustain peak performance.

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DIGITAL MINING

Rio Tinto Chief Technical Officer Mark Davies says, with this group of innovators, the mining industry is taking another step in the right direction towards changing the way haul truck systems operate.

“Through collaborations like this, where we all come together to create change, we can drive long-term benefits for our industry and the environment,” he says.

“We know we have a role to play in helping solve the global climate challenge. We’re looking at how we can make changes across our business to reduce our carbon emissions 50% by 2030. Initiatives like the Charge On Innovation Challenge can help us reach our targets.”

Vale´s CEO, Eduardo Bartolomeo (see Top 10), adds that the decarbonisation challenge is so extensive that the mining industry cannot tackle it alone, but “with partnerships such as these, we hope to reach this goal, for ourselves, for our communities and for our planet”.

“ THROUGH COLLABORATIONS LIKE THIS, WHERE WE COME TOGETHER TO CREATE CHANGE, WE CAN DRIVE LONGTERM BENEFITS FOR OUR INDUSTRY AND ENVIRONMENT” MARK DAVIES

CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER, RIO TINTO

GHD has facilitated the Charge On Innovation Challenge and is now leading the process of establishing consortia to drive the testing of preferred technologies. GHD's role builds on the significant work of Austmine to launch the challenge, which attracted a number of supporting organisations, OEMs and investors.

CEO Ashley Wright says its role with Charge On Innovation Challenge is aligned with its Future Energy ambitions of helping clients and communities move to a future of reliable, affordable and secure low-carbon energy, sooner. “Decarbonising heavyemitting sectors, including both mining and transport, will be crucial to realising this vision,” he says. miningdigital.com

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Bid focus: Hitachi Energy Hitachi Energy put forward a flexible solution design that enables electricity to be safely delivered to large battery-powered, off-road electric haul trucks, while maintaining or improving productivity levels. The end-toend solution connects the mine’s electrical grid directly to its haul trucks and other vehicles, such as excavators.

Advanced power electronics and digital technologies are key to the design of Hitachi Energy’s innovative solution to electrify the haul trucks that are used to transport materials. At the heart of the design is GrideMotion Flash – which enables the haul trucks’ batteries to be rapidly and safely recharged (8MW) in a few minutes.

To further optimise energy use across the mine, Hitachi Energy is also able to deliver a full solution, including its innovative e-mesh digital solutions for e-mobility. Additionally, 44

July 2022

“ THE CHARGE ON INNOVATION CHALLENGE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE CURRENT COLLABORATIVE WORK BEING DONE TO REIMAGINE TRADITIONAL MODELS AND RELATIONSHIPS” JAMES AGAR

GROUP PROCUREMENT OFFICER, BHP

DIGITAL MINING

MANTRAC PROVIDES REMOTE ASSISTANCE TO KOIDU

the company is able to provide a holistic and detailed monitoring and control solution for the charging process and the grid connection system.

A range of remote and onsite services will also be made available to support the transition to the new technologies and the efficient operation of the new infrastructure.

Gerhard Salge, CTO of Hitachi Energy, says the Charge On Innovation Challenge is another great example of how the company is collaborating with whole industries to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future.

“Hitachi Energy’s proposal is for an innovative haul truck 24/7 electrification solution that will help the world’s mining industry to decarbonise without compromising on productivity," he says.

"Electricity will be the backbone of the entire energy system."

Diamond mining company Koidu’s difficulties securing reliable grid power have been buoyed by Mantrac supplying two generators to replace an equivalent number of older units from the seven in the site’s powerhouse. Eventually, five Caterpillar 3516 Diesel Generator Sets were supplied, with the potential to increase the powerhouse with three or four additional units.

CONNECTED MINING MARKET GROWTH FORECASTS The Connected Mining Market size is projected to grow from US$12.7bn in 2022 to US$23.6bn by 2027 at a CAGR of 13.3%, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com.

Connected solutions, which refer to the deployment of IoT solutions in the mining industry, are expected to hold the largest market size. miningdigital.com

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DIGITAL MINING

Charge On Innovation Challenge innovators ABB ABB is enabling the entire mining value chain to evolve through electrification, automation and digitalisation, embracing a joint industry approach linking the domain expertise of our people with the specialist knowledge of partners for fully-integrated systems.

Ampcontrol and Tritium (Australia) The Ampcontrol and Tritium mining haul truck battery swap solution is an end-to-end, ultra-fast modular recharging station that is fully automated, relocatable, scalable and cell agnostic.

Drive-in/drive-out, an autonomous transfer robot, can swap batteries in 90 seconds, significantly reducing safety risks and increasing productivity.

BluVeinXL BluVein XL is a ‘dynamic charging technology solution’ for heavy battery electric vehicles in open-pit mining and safely enables the full electrification of heavy mining fleets. It enables the ability for grid power to simultaneously power the electric drive motors and charge the onboard vehicle battery.

DB Engineering & Consulting (DB E&C) and Echion Technologies The two companies have come together to develop a leading solution for the

electrification of mining trucks. The Catenary and Advanced Battery Technology system combines proven rail industry technology with XNO battery chemistry to deliver the electric solution.

Shell Consortium For mobile equipment on a mine site, Shell helps to enable a decarbonised, cost neutral end-to-end interoperable electrification system while minimising operational impact.

It combines an innovative, high-powered battery solution with ultrafast charging and a standardised micro-grid energy system.

Siemens Siemens’ patented zero-emission, battery electric haul truck solution combines a proven off-board energy source, with on-board energy storage (LTO batteries) capable of dynamic 6C and >400kWh in-cycle charging, while simultaneously providing increased power to the wheels to decrease overall cycle time and increase productivity.

3ME Technology 3ME Technology is a battery and electric vehicle technology company that develops and manufactures safe, scalable, remotely monitored, and reliable battery systems to power heavy-duty mining equipment.

3ME Technology is providing a refined version of its novel Bladevolt Battery System to fit the requirements of haul truck operations. miningdigital.com

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HINDUSTAN ZI

SUCCESSFUL DIG

SUSTAINABIL JOURNEY WRITTEN BY: TOM SWALLOW PRODUCED BY: GLEN WHITE

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Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc, divulges the company’s current position and how digitalisation plays a role in making underground mining sustainable

T

he Indian mining sector produces nearly 95 different minerals, consisting of fossil-fuel, metals, and non-metallic materials, as well as other minor minerals. But as some of the major polluting materials are phased out in years to come, the emphasis is turning towards materials with applications in new technologies for sustainable development.

As focus is shifting to more and more sustainable growth, it is imperative that more and more steel used in building infrastructure is galvanised. This will reduce the need for replacement, which accounts to almost 15% in infrastructure related steel consumption in India. Moreover, for a static energy storage solution, Zinc batteries will prove crucial in the coming years.

Hindustan Zinc is responsible for the production of those desirable minerals as the second largest zinc and lead miner in India—and the largest producer in the world if you include its silver mining operations. The company was responsible for one million tonnes of metal concentrate produced in 2021 and its figures continue to increase as it witnesses major growth across its underground mining operations, which is something that’s not so common across the country.

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Arun Misra, CEO

ARUN MISRA TITLE: CEO & WHOLE TIME DIRECTOR INDUSTRY: MINING LOCATION: INDIA Mr. Arun Misra – CEO Hindustan Zinc – has been leading the world’s 2nd largest integrated producer of Zinc & Lead and 6th largest Silver producer since August 1, 2020 – a period of time that can best be described as unprecedented. And in keeping up with the times, Mr. Misra’s leadership has been nothing less than extraordinary.

Under his leadership, Hindustan Zinc has achieved unparalleled operational excellence, and set global benchmarks in sustainable social solutions that have benefited the business, people and communities.

Mr. Misra was appointed Deputy CEO, HZL on November 20, 2019 and was elevated to CEO & WTD, Hindustan Zinc Limited from August 1st, 2020. In less than 10 months, he was moved to the Corner Office and placed at the helm of the world’s second-largest integrated producer of lead and zinc.

HINDUSTAN ZINC

“WE ARE READY TO FACE CHALLENGES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, ON THE CONSUMPTION FRONT AND THE OTHER ON THE SUPPLY FRONT” ARUN MISRA

CEO & WHOLE TIME DIRECTOR, HINDUSTAN ZINC

While the company continues to improve its output and profitability yearon-year—and act as a major contributor to sustainable initiatives—it has its own agenda to take care of, and this includes decarbonising its operations and ensuring the firm remains within its principles as a sustainable mining organisation.

To share just how the company will achieve this, Arun Misra, CEO and Whole Time Director at Hindustan Zinc, divulges its plans for the future and explains how it will promote responsible sourcing, decarbonisation and better use of natural resources.

A leader of mining and smelting As a leader that is constantly learning, Misra was educated in electrical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, before joining Tata Steel as a graduate trainee with a focus on maintenance functions. After he found a love for mining operations at the company, he began to climb the ranks as a leader, completing his stint at Tata as the Vice President Raw Material.

Putting his love for mining and knowledge of natural resources to use, Misra began work at Hindustan Zinc in November 2019 and quickly realised that India was very much developing its mining industry.

“It has been a very rewarding professional life. I’ve enjoyed improving my understanding of mining and producing metals & minerals.

Mineral processing is my favourite subject aside from mining,” Misra says.

He also explains that the global outlook of the business results in a successful turnaround of metals, as the price is dependent on the area in demand and the price within that area.

“At Hindustan Zinc, for the last two years, we have continuously improved our numbers in terms of production volume and profit. We are aware that the price of any metal is not in our hands, it is the factor of supply and demand across the globe.”

Sustainability brings commercial mining success In his leading role at Hindustan Zinc, Misra oversees sustainability at the company and its strategy is clearly aligned with the miner’s plans for success. With targets in place, it will begin to show its sustainability credentials and expects to see achievements by 2025.

Following this, the company expects to steer ever closer towards net zero by sourcing renewable energy solutions.

The firm expects to increase its renewable energy input through the procurement of 550MW of renewable energy — 200MW of which is getting closer by the day as it is in the process of signing a power purchase agreement (PPA).

A further action to reduce emissions across its underground mining sites is the adoption of all-electric underground mining vehicles, including transport trucks and loaders powered by solar energy. Not only does miningdigital.com

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technology development enable this, but it also encourages a safer method of working in a highly dangerous environment.

“We are ready to face challenges in both directions, on the consumption front and the other on the supply front. Our target is to become completely green after 2030, which is one of the biggest challenges that every industry faces. This is more so for us as we operate underground mining and smelting, which are meticulous processes,” says Misra.

Another section of the business that Misra deals with is permissions. Social licensing is one of the critical areas of the business alongside the responsible use of resources.

“We cannot relax while we are using water from lakes that is primarily meant for human consumption. We have to ensure that our operations use 100% reusable water supplies,” says Misra.

Technology for safer and more efficient mining As its operations involve venturing deeper underground—roughly 1km below the surface — Hindustan Zinc must navigate through different and varied conditions without compromising health and safety, all the while making production more efficient.

According to Misra, the Indian mining industry is not used to such high productivity and neither are staff, meaning there is a gap in the available infrastructure and talent.

Working with its partner organisation, Normet, the company is changing the landscape for mining operations with the inclusion of digitally enabled equipment that can be operated and managed above ground. This involves telecommunication capabilities and digital connectivity. In order for these solutions to work, these systems miningdigital.com

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HINDUSTAN ZINC

must be reliable in providing constant data streams between underground and surface-level operations to provide a realtime picture of progress and predictive monitoring.

Operating these systems requires the expertise of technical professionals and data scientists to analyse mining operations for both efficiency and safety underground.

“There is a lot of live streaming of data coming from the mines, and that data is analysed by data scientists to predict operations, forecast failures, and then carry out more predictive maintenance,” Misra says.

The miner is also committed to the adoption of all-electric machinery for transport in and out of its mines as well as on-site loaders. Announcing this investment in July 2021, Hindustan is funding a complete switch from diesel in alignment with its sustainability goals.

According to Misra, Normet has become well integrated into Hindustan Zinc’s operations. “Normet is a very important partner for us because in mining, you can’t do everything by yourself. It requires a lot of supplies and support, for example, to carry explosives, charge the explosives,” he explains.

“You also need various utility vehicles, including those for carrying people in the underground mine, during the declining, and when dropping them at workspaces.

Normet does a very good job of that, and we have also signed a memorandum of understanding for the supply and joint development of electric vehicles.”

As a ‘win-win’ scenario for both teams, Normet works with Hindustan’s dedicated executive team to map out new developments, treating the company as though it is less of a supplier and more a part of the business.

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A further feat of digital transformation is shifting procurement and marketing functions online, with almost 50% of its marketing processes through an online platform and nearly all of its procurement being carried out via digital means.

“We are slowly moving to digital—just like COVID-19 spurred other industries to adopt touchless services and contactless delivery. Face-to-face negotiation is a thing of the past; it’s all ecommerce,” says Misra, as he reiterates why the firm has shifted its procurement functions online.

Shaping the future of mining in India As the firm moves forward in implementing its sustainable developments and environmental initiatives, technology and corporate strategy are going to play important roles in achieving them alongside its increasing output. The use of natural resources is critical as they shape the company’s production as well as its procurement and operational resilience. miningdigital.com

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HINDUSTAN ZINC

“WE HAVE CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVED OUR NUMBERS IN TERMS OF PRODUCTION VOLUME AND PROFIT” ARUN MISRA

CEO & WHOLE TIME DIRECTOR, HINDUSTAN ZINC

The treatment of water is a key area, creating a circular approach to its mining operations, but also in providing clean water for use by local industries and communities.

Misra says: “We have put up sewage water treatment plants in Udaipur. We are carrying out the treatment of the entire sewage generated from Udaipur City and releasing about 30% of treated water back to the river to maintain Ecological Flow for ensuring uninterrupted flow in the river and further usage by the community, whereas the remaining 70% will be consumed by our own industry.”

Apart from its technology expansion, sustainable sourcing of goods and services— including renewable energy and the implementation of EV technology—its energy will be sourced from solar and wind power solutions, with excess energy stored for future use.

Beyond its mining and smelting remit, Hindustan Zinc will also look to support the development of Zinc-air batteries as Misra believes this is the next step in sustainable power storage—an industry that the mining firm will be heavily invested in.

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How

VISUAL

Visualisation continues to change rapidly in mining, driven by technological advancement in hyperspectral imagery and 3D WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS

hese are exciting times for visualisation in mining, with the convergence of new technologies such as hyperspectral imaging and 3D remote sensor technology broadening the possibilities.

Miners can receive the “extra dimension of wavelength” for conventional images in hyperspectral imagery, providing a much richer data set.

Rather than expressing an image using red, green, and blue values at each pixel location, as is traditional, hyperspectral cameras instead record a complete spectrum at each point to create a 3D data set, sometimes referred to as a hyperspectral data cube.

The additional spectral dimension facilitates supervised learning algorithms that can characterise visually indistinguishable objects – capabilities that are highly desirable across multiple application sectors.

Combining hyperspectral imaging with sensors capable of detecting light beyond 1000nm enables even more information to be obtained, further enhancing the ability to distinguish different materials.

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provide ter data and measurement Photo credit idsgeoradar

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Empowering safer, more sustainable mining As energy costs fluctuate, high-grade ores become scarcer, and profit margins tighten, productive mines recognize that technology is essential to their success. Companies must be smarter, safer, and quicker to respond to change. Their future depends on it.

Hexagon recognizes that the competitive edge of its customers depends on empowering an autonomous future by integrating, automating, and optimizing critical workflows.

This means smart mines that are efficient to operate, maximize safety and minimally impact the environment.

hexagonmining.com

INDUSTRY X

Photo credit idsgeoradar

“ 3D LiDARbased volume measurement can enable accurate production and material level tracking to prevent stockouts and overstock situations” DR. FLORIAN PETIT CO-FOUNDER, BLICKFELD

One of the challenges facing industrial deployment of hyperspectral imaging is that converting the extremely data rich hyperspectral data cube into tangible insights can be tricky, requiring specialist data analysis/machine learning skills.

To address this, manufacturers are increasingly incorporating machine vision algorithms within the package they offer so that the system outputs coordinates of classified objects, rather than raw hyperspectral data cubes.

3D LiDAR remote sensing technology is another area with potentially beneficial prospects for the mining industry, according to Blickfeld.

It provides accurate, easily measurable volumes of bulk material and can help to offset significant inaccuracies and financial

burdens that come as part of an inability to measure and track the volume of raw materials.

To date, traditional manual volume measurement methods have included simply eyeballing the materials, the use of a walking wheel instrument, as well as bucket or truckload counting.

Not only are each of these techniques inefficient, they are also costly, inaccurate and overall contribute to damaging a company’s ability to outperform others in their industry or field.

Volume measurement requires the entire surface of materials to be scanned, taking into account variations in surface level.

Other technologies like cameras or singlepoint lasers are unable to gather this level of three-dimensional detail at one time. miningdigital.com

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Meanwhile, ultrasound sensors are marred by problems like signal absorption by certain stored materials, signal noise and reflection, limited range, and high-power requirements.

This results in inaccurate data and costly installations.

3D LiDAR technology is capable of overcoming these issues by scanning the entire surface of the relevant material to produce an accurate, three-dimensional point cloud image comprising millions of points.

This generates spatial data of the surface accurate to centimetres, accounting for all variations on the material surface, then, through a combination of hardware and software, data-driven decisions are enabled.

The technology is capable of operating in real time to provide the data, which is ultimately the basis for a highly digitised supply chain.

While most optical reconstruction methods require ambient light, LiDAR has the unique ability to operate in lowlight and darkness, leaving customers confident that, no matter the circumstances of their operations or storage, the sensing technology can deliver the information required continuously and instantaneously, 24/7.

Furthermore, the safety of their workers is protected due to the extensive range capabilities of the sensors, which allow for data to be gathered at longer distances with scarce need for maintenance.

Overall, LiDAR is capable of providing real-time, accurate, and repeatable results, while its integration can offer streamlined, cost-effective, efficient, and safer volume measurements.

Dr. Florian Petit, co-founder of Blickfeld, said an accurate volume measurement installed in the inventory management 64

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system can help reduce inventory errors, ensure on-demand delivery verification and timely shipments.

Blickfeld’s technology is currently being used by barite mining company Deutsche Baryt-Industrie, where it’s used to accurately determine inventory levels.

Since using LiDAR sensors for highly accurate volume 3D data, Deutsche Baryt-Industrie has noticed an increased productivity and improved supply chain management, ultimately providing workers with real-time and accurate data relating to the volume of barite being stored.

Another key benefit LiDAR offers is that while most optical reconstruction methods require ambient light, LiDAR has the ability

Photo credit idsgeoradar

to operate in low-light and darkness, leaving workers confident that no matter the circumstances of their operations or storage, the sensing technology can deliver the information required continuously and instantaneously, 24/7.

“3D LiDAR-based volume measurement can enable accurate production and material level tracking to prevent stockouts and overstock situations,” said Petit.

“Supply and demand could be easily tracked, and complete inventory across multiple locations can be managed, along with stockpile history tracking and inventory level thresholds.”

STRYDE, a seismic technology provider, has deployed its Nodal land seismic

IDS GeoRadar unveils AiMaps IDS GeoRadar, part of Hexagon, recently announced its newest solution for mining and utility professionals: AiMaps, which offers intelligent cloud-processing of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data to provide clean, uncluttered information for faster detection of underground utilities.

Adopting the use of AI in underground utility detection, AiMaps facilitates analysis with a smart, straightforward cloud-based solution to speed up productivity. miningdigital.com

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Photo credit idsgeoradar

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“ For CCUS projects to be successful, operators need a deep understanding of a site’s underlying geology” MIKE POPHAM CEO, STRYDE

acquisition system for Projeo Corporation on another CCUS project in Gibson City, Illinois, U.S., as part of the Illinois State Geological Survey’s CarbonSAFE Illinois Storage Corridor project.

Over 20,000 STRYDE Nodes are being deployed by seismic technology company Explor, coupled with around 8,000 vibroseis source points acquired using the ISSN methodology developed and trademarked by bp. This ensures that high-density seismic is delivered at a significantly reduced price point for this geological subsurface imaging project.

This new 3D project, which covers about 8 sq/miles, will deliver a trace density of 20 million traces per sq/mile and follows a series of successful high-density 2D lines, acquired by Projeo in the same area during 2021 using the STRYDE Nodal system.

CCUS is set to play a vital role in the energy transition, permanently locking away carbon produced from energy and industries that can’t avoid emissions.

Mike Popham, CEO at STRYDE, believes CCUS is a crucial component of the world’s shift to a lower-carbon framework.

“For CCUS projects to be successful, operators need a deep understanding of a site’s underlying geology, and then subsequently, post-injection, they require low-cost, effective repeat monitoring to confirm that injected CO2 is remaining safely in the subsurface.”

TECHNOLOGY

Robots and sensors spot deep mining PROBLEMS Spot The Dog is proving an asset across many key industries embarking on digital transformation – and that includes sniffing out problems in mining WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS

Photo credit Gallo Images / Brenton Geach

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Photo credit Boston Dynamics

azardous gases underground are an invisible threat to mining teams, who often don’t know they are in danger until it’s too late. This gas build-up can be created through the exposed strata, blasting, daily “mucking”, and even via runaway battery fires on critical machinery.

In 1986, the iconic tradition of using canaries to detect the presence of dangerous gases was outlawed and miners were ordered to replace canaries with electronic carbon monoxide sensors, instead.

Currently, gas levels are measured by a ventilation system that the return air raises or wearable sensors donned by miners. While this fixed infrastructure has saved countless 70

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lives, mobile autonomous inspection of strategic areas before re-entry or in emergency situations via aerial and ground robots is the next step to complete realtime coverage.

Enter: Spot The Dog. The ingenious tech canine – which has already been making a name for himself in other sectors including offshore energy – is now sniffing out opportunities in mining.

In a new development recently showcased for the first time at Mining Indaba, Boston Dynamics Spot Enterprise (BDSE) robot, equipped with Maestro Digital Mine’s IIoT gas sensor, can be operated on mine-site, to detect gases like carbon monoxide without putting mining and ventilation teams in danger.

BDSE’s agile mobile robot is designed to navigate all types of terrain, allowing organisations to automate routine inspection tasks, capture data securely and safely, and

TECHNOLOGY

“ The ability to ‘smell’ for hazardous gas detection from our new robot dog is very exciting” RETHABILE LETLALA

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR DWYKA MINING SERVICES

allow for streamlined operations in complex and dangerous environments.

Maestro Digital Mine manufactures IIoT measurement and control instrumentation for the optimisation of underground mine ventilation and underground digital networks for last mile communication.

It is working closely with Dwyka Mining Services – a pan-African mining technology platform that assists underground mining clients in adopting and adapting to, evolving technologies with a focus on supporting efforts to improve safety, health and environmental conditions – in a collaborative pursuit of the digital mines of the future.

“Spot is an amazing platform with almost unlimited applications,” says Rethabile Letlala, Operations Director Dwyka Mining Services. miningdigital.com

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“The ability to get live environmental monitoring data ‘on the go’ by extending our remote sensing capability to ‘smell’ for hazardous gas detection from our new robot dog is very exciting.”

Using the Spot Enterprise, processing data is shared wirelessly over WiFi, with gas and temperature sensor readings captured while the robot is in operation and displayed in real-time via the MaestroLink Server application.

With the addition of a SLAM scanning unit sensor, like the Emesent Hovermap, readings can be saved with precise coordinates in a high-fidelity point cloud that can be exported and examined in a variety of mining software packages.

Collaborating with its ‘mudin-boots’ partner, Dwyka Mining Services is in turn pushing Maestro Digital Mine to innovate and collaborate with its core purpose of enhancing lives

Photo credit RMUS/UAS

Telit scoops two awards Telit was awarded IIoT Company of the Year at the 10th Annual CompassIntel Mobile, IoT and Emerging Tech Awards, and its Telit deviceWISE VIEW was named IIoT Product of the Year winner in the 2022 IoT Evolution Industrial IoT Product of the Year Awards, presented

by IoT Evolution World.

through the pursuit of productivity and safety excellence, says Michael Gribbons, CEO and co-founder.

“The relationship will open up immediate opportunities to Dwyka Mining Services and Maestro across the African continent and extend mobile environmental monitoring to our current installations at over 170 mines in 38 countries, globally, using our patented edge-based IIoT sensor technologies once the solution is fully embedded.” miningdigital.com

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“ You can deploy these units in mines, quarries or even in the middle of a desert” JAINAM MEHTA

CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER, OIZOM

Ventilation and mining teams can easily add different gas sensors onto the connected Zephyr Air Quality Station, capturing critical environmental data to proactively identify gas or temperature challenges.

The adoption of underground mining technology is linked closely with the extent of mine-wide wireless connectivity available up to the working face.

Generally referred to as ‘the last mile’, the area that covers the underground section – from a level access point to the blast face – can make the process of delivering robust wireless coverage complex. Dwyka Mining Services has delivered a range of successful projects fully deploying WiFi coverage (see Case Studies), with Spot’s capability to connect over WiFi extending mines’ opportunity to control Spot from the surface for remote gas inspection.

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TECHNOLOGY

Maestro products are made exclusively for underground mine automation, IT, and ventilation sectors, delivering energy savings and productivity improvements while meeting the highest health and safety standards.

5G IIoT market set to grow into an $18.8bn market 5G Industrial IoT market revenues, estimated at $890mn in 2021, are anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 28.1% between 2022-2032, according to a recently published Future Market Insights report. By the end of 2032, the market is expected to reach $18.8bn.

Meanwhile, 5G Industrial IoT revenue through large enterprises is projected to grow at a CAGR of nearly 28% during the projected period.

Photo credit Boston Dynamics

Oizom monitors air quality An Indian startup offering smart, affordable air quality monitors – Oizom – has expanded into 50 countries. Its monitors have to date empowered several smart cities, mining sites, wastewater treatment plants, which receive an accurate reading of air quality and weather conditions.

A number of regional and global players operate in this market. These companies compete based on the innovation of their products, in addition to their quality, their brand reputation, and their market presence, in order to sell their products through various industries. A range of strategies are being employed by companies to remain competitive.

In March 2022, Ericsson and Vodafone UK cooperated to frame an organisation cut on 5G SA involving single RAN work for a high-transmission capacity and lowinertness network that can be conveyed for computer generated reality use case in a retail location.

In the same month, Cisco and Tech Mahindra announced their collaboration to modernise 5G infrastructure with routed optical networking. Cisco has expertise in routed optical fibre, whereas Tech Mahindra has expertise in IP-based, software driven 5G networks. miningdigital.com

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PLOTTING THE LONG JOURNEY TO SUSTAINABILITY In the rush to decarbonisation, mining companies are busy publishing sustainability reports and roadmaps – but most CEOs are nervous about ROI and economic benefits WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS

P

erpetua Resources recently unveiled its 13-point sustainability roadmap. Among the list of goals were commitments to water conservation, limiting carbon footprints, reporting on GHG, and working closely with communities.

In a similar vein, Greatland Gold published its first sustainability report, outlining the mining junior’s approach to ESG matters as it evolves from an explorer to developer and ‘multi-commodity producer’. Meanwhile, Atalaya Mining also produced its inaugural report, saying it marks a key step forward in its corporate disclosure.

Kinross – committed to ensuring ESG remains core to its business – has published one, too, recognising that it needs to focus

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SUPPLY CHAIN

Photo credit firstmode

Change is hard. The truth is that many mining companies are still very hesitant about furthering their digital mining transformations in fear of cost of implementation, risk and uncertainty.

However, digital solutions from AVEVA can help mining companies reduce complexity and optimize business and operational performance. aveva.com @avevagroup linkedin.com/company/aveva

For more information, read our free E-Book on Digital Mining Transformation.

Photo credit firstmode

“ SUSTAINABILITY MUST BE SEEN FOR WHAT IT IS: A TRANSFORMATION OF COMPANY OPERATIONS SPANNING THE ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN” MCKINSEY & COMPANY

efforts on material ESG topics that are key to the company and stakeholders, while Freeport-McMoRan declares it is “accelerating the future, responsibly”, further embedding ESG strategy and commitments into its decision making.

Among the sustainable front-runners is Ivanhoe Mines, which recently published its fifth annual Sustainability Report, highlighting programmes and initiatives as it strives to produce “the greenest copper” at its Kamoa-Kakula Copper Joint Venture in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and “reinvent mining” with people and communities at its core.

SUPPLY CHAIN

Clearly, then, in 2022, few – if any – mining companies can afford not to have a sustainable roadmap.

While there is notable overlap between many of the strategic goals, each nonetheless provides a valuable framework, outlining ESG aims and visions in these pressing times of decarbonisation and energy transition.

With corporate transparency now crucial, customers and investors want to know what firms are doing to tackle their own emissions and support broader Sustainable Development Goals – hence the acres of reports.

While sustainability reporting is here to stay, the bigger question is how best to implement sustainability on the ground in a practical and productive manner?

A recent IBM Institute for Business Value report found that 37% more CEOs in 2022 rated sustainability a top priority, compared with 2021 – and, yet, 57% identify unclear ROI and economic benefits as a leading challenge.

While more than 80% of CEOs said sustainability investments will drive better business results in the next five years, uncertainty persists. miningdigital.com

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SUPPLY CHAIN

“For most CEOs, an urgency to act is encountering the reality that turning sustainability aspirations and commitments into measurable results is easier said than done,” it notes, identifying four groups of CEOs (see box).

More than half (51%) of chief supply chain officers surveyed in a separate IBM report said they would be willing to sacrifice profit – 5% on average – to improve sustainability outcomes, equating to US$22bn for US Fortune 500 companies in one year.

"The confluence of post-COVID challenges, inflation, supply issues, cyber security, and sustainability has led to the most complex operating environment in modern business. This has forced organisations to rethink and rebuild their supply chains to be more agile, efficient, and sustainable," says Jonathan Wright, managing partner, finance and supply chain transformation, IBM Consulting.

"Technology and data-fueled automation and intelligence are key to not only evaluating current workflows and inefficiencies, but in identifying new opportunities as well."

Concentrating on select priorities might be more advisable than juggling a long list of requirements that may, or may not, transition from bullet points to reality.

It is not enough to launch individual initiatives sporadically and hope for success.

The ‘dartboard’ approach to sustainability has been consigned to the pre-COVID, pre-COP era.

Instead, sustainability must be seen for what it is: a transformation of company operations spanning the entire supply chain, according to McKinsey.

McKinsey highlights four crucial elements to the transformation of company operations: 80

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Set the right target level The first step begins with a realistic outside-in assessment: what are regulatory expectations?; where are competitors raising the bar?; and what are the expectations of customers and other stakeholders, including investors?

It is usually strategically advisable to take the lead in a small number of relevant dimensions and determine what the future minimum requirements will be in all other dimensions, advises McKinsey.

The level of the targets and the speed of their achievement should be based on realistic assumptions and plans. Knowledge of the levers and the technical possibilities to arrive at a realistic ambition is of particular importance.

Plan the transformation and set the framework Once the target level has been set, senior management should make the transformation a visible priority for everyone and plan it in detail. To this end, measures need to be developed and incorporated into an overall road map.

Governance is also crucial for successful implementation at this point; thus, instituting a sustainability officer at the senior-management level is an important framework condition.

This does not necessarily have to be the chief sustainability officer, as long as the organisation ensures that the central team works effectively with the operational units and can not only create initiatives but also enforce them.

“ THE CONFLUENCE OF POST-COVID-19 CHALLENGES HAS FORCED ORGANISATIONS TO RETHINK AND REBUILD THEIR SUPPLY CHAINS TO BE MORE AGILE, EFFICIENT, AND SUSTAINABLE” JONATHAN WRIGHT MANAGING PARTNER, FINANCE AND SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSFORMATION, IBM CONSULTING

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Photo credit firstmode

World’s

LARGEST

zero-emission truck debuts First Mode engineers in Seattle are claiming to have developed the world's largest zero-emission haul truck that is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and lithium-ion battery. As tall as a three-story building and weighing 200 tonnes when empty, the truck can carry up to 290 tonnes of ore.

Partnering with Anglo American, the truck will keep 700 cars' worth of CO2 emissions out of the atmosphere.

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Secure and track implementation For the implementation process, it is worth setting up a transformation office that regularly measures the degree of target achievement. This enables the prompt adoption or reprioritisation of countermeasures.

It is also essential that adequate resources are made available. To change ways of thinking and behaviour within the company, it also makes sense to recruit employees as designated change agents.

In this context, the communication and anchoring of sustainability goals in the organisation – via incentive systems, for example – should also be addressed.

SUPPLY CHAIN

The World Economic Forum highlights the following measures that mining companies can embrace on their sustainability pathways: • Re-emphasise the journey: Businesses need to have a decisive conversation with stakeholders (companies, civil society, governments) about their visions and milestones for a sustainable world.

• Invest in R&D: Mining and metals enterprises must start developing the technologies to operate in a clean, affordable and safe environment in frontiers previously considered inaccessible.

Create transparency Lastly, investments should be made in data and transparency because retailers, consumers, regulators, and investors are increasingly demanding it. In particular, traceability across supply chains poses a challenge.

This makes it all the more important for companies to deal with the sustainability data of their own products right from the start and to develop the corresponding analytical skills.

For successful implementation, the key actors in the individual divisions need to develop both function-specific and overarching measures.

• Define shared value: To prepare for operating in a sustainable world, companies in the sector need to look at what drives value for their customers and the communities in which they operate.

• Rethink multi-stakeholder models: Mining and metals companies can accelerate the transition to a sustainable world by embracing multi-stakeholder models.

• Cultivate the workforce: The skills and capabilities required to operate mining and metals companies in a sustainable world will be different; this needs to be considered, planned for and developed in advance. miningdigital.com

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IN THE

CEOS

MINING INDUSTRY

These mining heavyweights are busy juggling the needs of decarbonisation, productivity and technological efficiency in a mercurial landscape WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS

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July 2022

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TOP 10

09 Zou Laichang

Zijin Mining Group Corporation Under Zou Laichang’s leadership, Zijin Mining Group Corporation reports strong growth momentum, recording a record RMB6.6bn net profit in 2021. He delivered impressive results in COVID19 containment, production and operation, as well as in project construction and M&A, in 2020.

Zijin Mining recently announced plans to acquire a 19.9% interest in Xanadu and a 50% interest in Xanadu’s subsidiary, Khuiten Metals, through a phased investment arrangement, which will allow Zijin to ultimately own a 45.9% stake in the Kharmagtai copper-gold project in Mongolia.

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July 2022

Run Zhou Zhu

Aluminium Corporation of China Run Zhou Zhu holds the position of executive director and vice president at Aluminum Corp. of China and chairman at Ningxia Energy Saving Investment Co. Previously, he held the position of general manager of Chalco Xinjiang Aluminum Power Co., chairman and general manager of China Aluminum Ningxia Energy Group Co., and deputy general manager for Chalco Energy Co. He received an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree from Wuhan University.

TOP 10

07 Duncan Wanblad Anglo American

Duncan Wanblad brings to the Anglo-American board 30 years of international mining experience and a deep understanding of its group. He joined the board as chief executive on April 19, and chairs the group management committee, having served as a member since 2009. In addition, he is a non-executive director of Anglo American Platinum, De Beers and Kumba Iron Ore. From 2016 to April 2022, Duncan was simultaneously CEO and group director of strategy and business development at Base Metals from 2013 to 2019. Until April 2022, he chaired the AngloAmerican Foundation.

08

Li Wei

Yanzhou Coal Mining Co./Yankuang Energy Group Co. Li Wei was appointed chairman of the company in August 2021. A wholly-owned subsidiary, Yanzhou Coal has a number of different trading arms – one of which is Yancoal International, Sydney.

The company primarily engages in the mining, washing, processing and distribution of coal through railway transportation, coal chemical and power generation business.

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05 Zhi Ren Lu

China Shenhuan Energy Co. Zhi Ren Lu is CEO of China Shenhua Energy Company, which produces brown coal, bituminous coal, hard coal, coking coal and other related products. The company also operates electricity generation, railway transportation, shipping and port businesses.

The Beijing-based company has a market capitalisation of $62.8bn according to Forbes.

06

Eduardo Bartolomeo Vale

Eduardo Bartolomeo has been Vale's CEO since 2019. A senior executive with solid experience in integrated bulk commodities operations, supply chain and business turnaround, Bartolomeo stands out for his ability to lead complex operations and establish a culture of operational excellence.

His management style is focused on health and safety, efficiency, and productivity, aiming to obtain results through discipline in routine management. miningdigital.com

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03 Jakob Stausholm

Zheng Gaoqing

Jiangxi Copper Co. Zheng Gaoqing is Chairman of the Board of Jiangxi Copper Co., which specialises in copper mining and dressing; smelting and processing; extraction, and processing of precious and scattered metal, and sulphuric chemistry.

Its products include copper cathode, gold, silver, sulphuric acid, copper rod, copper tube, copper foil, selenium, tellurium, rhenium, and bismuth.

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July 2022

Rio Tinto

Jakob Stausholm joined Rio Tinto in September 2018 as executive director and chief financial officer, and was appointed chief executive in January 2021.

Focused on maximising cash flow and allocating that capital with discipline, he aims to balance investment in sustaining high-value growth, maintaining a strong balance sheet, and delivering superior shareholder returns in the short-, medium- and long-term.

Prior to joining Rio Tinto, Jakob was the chief strategy, finance and transformation officer for the Maersk Group, with oversight of the Group’s strategy, digitisation, IT, and legal facets, as well as the transformation and shared services functions. He also served as Group CFO of the global facility service provider ISS.

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Mike Henry BHP

Mike Henry assumed the role of CEO and Executive Director from January 2020, succeeding Andrew Mackenzie, who retired.

With 30 years’ experience in the global mining and petroleum industry, spanning operational, commercial, safety, technology and marketing roles, Henry was appointed to his current role of President Operations Minerals

Australia in 2016, and has been a member of the Executive Leadership Team since 2011.

Henry joined BHP in 2003, initially in business development and then in marketing and trading of a range of mineral and petroleum commodities based in The Hague, where he was also accountable for BHP’s ocean freight operations. He went on to hold various positions in the company.

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Gary Nagle Glencore

Gary Nagle succeeded Ivan Glasenberg, who led the company for 19 years, as Glencore’s CEO, helping transform it from a commodity trading business into one of the world’s largest globally diversified natural resource companies.

Nagle, who joined Glencore in 2000, has worked across the marketing and industrial businesses in Australia, Colombia, South Africa and Switzerland.

Glencore recently announced a strategic partnership with Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., a leading lithiumion battery recycler in North America. Glencore will subscribe for convertible debt in Li-Cycle, and Li-Cycle will become a preferred partner for Glencore in the lithiumion battery recycling sector.

In line with many of its competitors, Glencore – which aims to halve its emissions by 2035 – finds itself increasingly in the ESG spotlight as the energy transition attracts global attention. The company suffered a “rebuke from some shareholders” over its climate transition plan, according to the Financial Times.

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