EVENT SPOTLIGHT
MINEXPO 2021: INSIGHTS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN PAVILION AUSTMINE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHRISTINE GIBBS STEWART HOSTED THE AUSTRALIAN METS – NEXT GENERATION MINING PAVILION AT MINEXPO 2021 IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA DURING SEPTEMBER. WHILE THE SHOW LOOKED QUITE DIFFERENT TO PREVIOUS YEARS, IT WAS A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT FOR THE PARTICIPATING AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES.
D
espite reduced numbers walking the show floor, the event going ahead pointed to positive signs on the road to recovery for the mining industry. However, there was a limited Australian contingent due to travel restrictions, with most Australian company booths manned by United States, South American or even Russian personnel. The importance of mining in the global economic recovery was put front and centre at MINExpo. The opening conference panel explored this theme, with Arch Resources president and chief executive officer Paul Lang noting that new infrastructure investment, urbanisation and the green new deal stimulus will drive commodity demand and prices. On a local level, mining is also equally as important in transforming
small regional areas by providing thousands of family sustaining jobs. Mining’s role in addressing climate change was also explored during the conference sessions, including through technology development and providing the inputs to produce metal and steel to manufacture solar panels and wind turbines. Both Caterpillar and Komatsu explored projects to reduce diesel fuels and build zero emission trucks, along with supporting infrastructure and platforms needed for continual charging and application of new fuel sources. Game-changing technologies and innovations were again on display at MINExpo, with the major OEMs having impressive displays of new equipment. Komatsu’s HD785-7 autonomous water truck, Sandvik’s DS412iE battery-powered rock bolter, and Liebherr’s excavator R 9150 Generation 7 were all new releases to the market.
AUSTRALIA WAS STILL PRESENT AT MINEXPO DESPITE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS.
AUSTRALIANMINING
AUSTMINE’S PAVILION HIGHLIGHTED HOW THE METS SECTOR IS RECOVERING.
Digital technology firms took centre stage at this year’s MINExpo, with intelligent systems, data analytics, automation, AI (artificial intelligence), monitoring and mine site connectivity and visibility discussed at length. Hexagon Mining launched its Power of One, which is a holistic, life-of-mine smart solution connecting sensors and software, infield apps and cloudware to empower digital transformation. This scale and breadth of applications available is truly transformative for mining. The role of technology in driving sustainability was also explored in panel sessions. This was not just seen through an environmental lens, but also licence to operate, attracting young people into the industry and taking care of external stakeholders. Barrick Gold Corporation president and chief executive officer Mark Bristow threw a challenge out to the audience about technological development and sustainability. “We have seen a lot of talk over the last two years, and this is the first time the industry has come together,” Bristow says. “There is an enormous amount of work to do. Technical delivery is going to be the challenge. We have seen a real kick start in technological conceptualisation. We now need to convert this into genuine benefits.” Bristow noted that technology and innovation need a complete reinvestment to really change drive
74
NOVEMBER 2021
implementation and growth. He discussed the need for approval processes to be changed to adopt technologies quicker and pointed to an industry culture where there is a rush to comply rather than investing in new ways of doing things. Congratulations to the businesses that made an effort to be at MINExpo 2021. While the show was very different to previous years, it was definitely worthwhile top participate. Austmine’s Australian METS – Next Generation Mining Pavilion was headlined by AMC Consultants, Emesent, Klinge, PumpEng and TIMining. Thanks to METS Ignited and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources for supporting our efforts and providing sponsorship to enable us to showcase Australian METS to the world. It was very important that Australia was present at MINExpo given our global leadership in mining expertise and technology. While we are locked down in Australia, the world is certainly passing us by, and our lack of external engagement will no doubt have a negative impact on METS companies, exporters and economy as a whole. Austmine has been proud to lead Australia’s MINExpo efforts and we look forward to having a full contingent of businesses in the Australian Pavilion when we return to MINExpo in a few years’ time. AM
