Page 56 - Vol 33 Issue 34 2021

The future of mining in Africa
mining Analysis

The future of

mining in Africa

By Boris Ivanov

ining is one of Africa’s most important industries. In recent years, mining has spurred economic
Mgrowth and improved socioeconomic indicators across the continent. Rich in resources and the
prospect of attractive returns, Africa has long attracted state sponsored and foreign investment.

Over the past decade, the African mining sector ana lytics and advanced geospatial data mapping, Develop and strengthen
has faced considerable risks- both below and this level of tech and automation requires
a bove the ground. This includes commodity price connectivity and a secure, reliable power supply. safer mining practices
down turns, regulatory changes, squeeze on fund An electricity/energy infrastructure to integrate Mining continues to be a dangerous activity,
flows, alongside disruptive politics. Militancy, cor- new technology cannot be accessed universally whether its large-scale industrial mining or small-
ruption and the inequitable distribution of profits in most of Africa or is very costly. scale artisanal mining, surface or underground.
have also been a challenge. Larger companies can access tech solutions Health risks are varied and often quite serious,
However, following the economic upheaval trig- systems, applications and tools more readily, but due to the nature of the working environment,
gered by the ongoing pandemic and a fall in the for small and medium scale entities that run their landlocked locations and challenging tem pe ra-
value of the US dollar, the continent is en joying an operations with limited resources and depend tures.
unparalleled boom across the mining industry. on more manual means of data collection, Mining today, however, is substantially safer
Demand from governments planning large analysis and storage, digitisation will be slower. than before due to stricter safety legislation &
in frastructure projects to revive growth and a Accelerating digital transformation will help pro to cols, internal controls, awareness/training
blistering run in the price of commodities from adapt, reinvent, and transform the industry in a pro grammes and advances in technology.
their Covid lows in March 2020 is fuelling spe- sustainable and responsible way. Although the goal of zero harm has yet to be
culation that the world may be in the first leg of a A constant worry about technology in mining achieved, it remains the standard that mining
fifth commodities supercycle. is that it will costs jobs. The mining industry in companies continue to strive towards. Deeper
So, with news that the Covid-19 pandemic has Africa is a big source of employment - for exam- collaboration between national mining industry
re-ignited investment opportunities across the ple in South Africa it employs approximately bodies, mining companies and trade unions can
mining industry, how can Africa futureproof its over 450,000 people (2018 figs). It is important highlight and address specific problems and
mining industry and reap future rewards? that despite technological advancements, go- review mine design and support parameters to
vern ments and companies consider the im- develop best practice guidelines.
Embrace the tech pact to employment in mining communities Mining companies that focus on technological
transition and enact policies and programmes to mitigate advancements can also reduce the risk of health
against potential job losses. This may include
and safety incidents in underground mines.
Mining has traditionally been slow to embrace driving further skills development programmes This could range from advanced analytics, AI
new technologies that could transform the in- and Environmental, social and governance forecasting that can help prevent safety incidents
dustry, especially across developing economies. (ESG) initiatives to support technology driven before they occur and predictive maintenance
It is widely recognized that technology will play an transitions. techniques to safeguard risky operations. Better
important role in the development and ap pli ca- With Africa home to more than 30 percent asset tracking to flag any mechanical breakdowns
tion of new mining methods and improve pro duc- of the world’s mineral reserves, embracing the and environmental monitoring to raise
ti vity, efficiency health & safety and operational tech transition will prove incremental to navigate immediate dangers, such as the release of toxic
effectiveness of mines. existing challenges, improve planning and gases or ground instability can also minimise

While there has been significant progress and exploration activities and support competitive injuries or fatalities.
investment in developing solutions for mining innovation, to ensure the continent reaches its In the case of Artisanal mining, safety concerns
across areas like data science, advanced au to ma- mining potential. are often overlooked due to the sector being
tion, blockchain, artificial intelligence, advanced largely informal and small-scale operations that

56 | AFRICAN POWER Mining & Oil Review Vol33 Issue 34 2021