INNOVATION MAKING AUSTRALIAN MINING SAFER, MORE PRODUCTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE

By Tania Constable, Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Council of Australia

Smart helmets, drones, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. This isn’t a science fiction Hollywood movie; this is mining in Australia in 2023, played out in the Pilbara, Bendigo, Hunter Valley and Bowen Basin. When it comes to mining innovation, the land down under leads the world. This unprecedented innovation in the Australian mining industry did not, however, happen by chance. Rather, it is driven by safety, productivity and sustainability factors that have vastly improved the way the industry operates.

Australian mining has invested a whopping $30 billion in research and development since 2005 to ensure it continues to lead the globe in this space.

It has reaped the benefits of this serious investment, with unwavering commitment and strong partnerships between Australia’s miners, original equipment suppliers, university-led researchers and government agencies.

It has also made Australia a top-three jurisdiction for mining patent filings to help create an industry with unrivalled success globally.

Applications of AI in the mining industry

Technology-driven improvements are occurring through the mining lifecycle from exploration, development and operations, to closure and rehabilitation.

The outcomes have been remarkable – take for example how the industry uses artificial intelligence, which has been embedded across the mining industry.

Centralised control hubs oversee and control all aspects of a mining operation remotely.

Additionally, big data analysis helps mining companies make better use of the vast amounts of data collected from equipment and machinery daily to optimise safety, supply and productivity.

Kinetic energy from regenerative braking enables haul trucks to store and reuse energy extracted during braking, reducing vehicle fleet emissions by up to 35 per cent and operational costs by 10-15 per cent.

This has had a significant improvement in productivity and environmental outcomes.

Smart mining innovations

Smart helmets, smart vests, smart glasses and boots are just some of the wearable technology making mining safer and more productive.

At a site-by-site level, electrification and fuel switching are reducing emissions, in support of the industry’s ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Augmented and virtual reality, 3D imaging, drones, ore sorting sensors, precision mining, blockchain technology, integrated automation and solar photovoltaics are a few more examples of smart technology being utilised in the industry.

History has proven innovation transcends industries and there is no reason why mining can’t one day make a difference to other industries – domestically and internationally – aiding in their respective efforts to improve safety, productivity and sustainability.

In mining, innovation occurs across the value chain within what can be called the mining innovation ecosystem.

This includes miners, the mining workforce, the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector, original equipment manufacturers, university-led mining research institutions, Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) and CSIRO-led research collaboration.

But if Australian mining is to maintain its position as a global innovation leader, a supportive innovation ecosystem is required.

In the same way technology rapidly develops, so too should the innovation ecosystem. This requires coordinated action and a shared commitment by industry and government.

In this way, they’ll develop and maximise the substantial opportunities that exist to reaffirm Australian mining’s position as the minerals super power that will meet the demand for the important commodities for modern life and the transition to net zero emissions.

The Digital Mine report

In September 2022, the Minerals Council of Australia launched the Digital Mine report during Minerals Week.

Utilising international benchmarks, the report reviews the mining innovation ecosystem in Australia.

It also makes a number of recommendations to improve STEM workforces, industry oriented research and innovation, and regulatory settings to support technology pilots and drive Australia’s innovation performance to the top of the rankings.

Improve collaboration to boost women in technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)

Based on the ten-year trend, it will take until 2099 to achieve a gender balance in university STEM programs.

Government, industry and universities must work together on a comprehensive range of new initiatives to boost enrolments of women in STEM courses.

Identify and formalise new skills in digital transformation for the existing mining workforce

Government should work with industry to identify new skills acquired by existing workforces as part of the digital transformation of mining and allied industries.

The new skills should be recognised by a formal qualification that supports transferability and deepens the skills in Australia’s labour force.

Priority allied industries should include civil construction, manufacturing, agriculture and defence industries.

Maintain and grow support for industry-oriented research and innovation

International innovation rankings identify that Australia has a weakness in university-industry research and development (R&D) collaboration.

The Australian Government should support next generation university-industry R&D collaboration initiatives such as the Trailblazer initiative, which better integrates research between universities and industry.

This is in addition to maintaining support for industry-oriented research initiatives such as the university-led mining research institutes, CRCs and CSIRO-led initiatives.

Prioritise the recognition of new occupations by the Australian Bureau of Statistics

Delays in recognising emerging occupations is impeding comprehensive workforce planning.

The Australian Government should work with industry to recognise emerging occupations more quickly. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is undertaking a comprehensive review of ANZSCO to reflect a modern Australian labour market and better meet stakeholder needs. The study will occur over two years.

An annual process would be desirable, given the dynamic nature of occupation changes through the digital transformation of Australian industries.

Leveraging strength of the tertiary education sector to guarantee a pipeline of mining engineers

Alarmingly, international innovation rankings confirm that Australia has a weakness in engineering graduates as a proportion of total university graduates.

Government and industry should work collaboratively to promote careers in engineering and leverage the benefit of Australia’s globally recognised strengths in university education.

Given the critical role of mining engineers in the industry workforce, the acute shortage of mining engineers, and the exceptionally high ranking of Australian universities that teach mining engineering, priority must be given to greatly expanding the future pipeline of mining engineers.

For example, the Commonwealth Innovative Places grant scheme, targeting national priority and emerging skills needs, should increase the number of available allocations from 300 to 600.

Sustainable safeguard mechanism reform

Substantial progress is already being made to develop and deploy technology to reduce emissions at industrial facilities.

The Australian Government should provide certainty and stability through the transition to net zero by 2050, by ensuring reform of the safeguard mechanism is done in close consultation with those industries and facilities affected.

Reform should ensure tailored treatment for emissions-intensive trade exposed and affected industries.

This should be based on the principle of comparative impact, ensuring exporters remain competitive.

In the last few months, the MCA has worked constructively with government to ensure this is achieved.

Establishing regulatory sandboxes for mining innovation

Currently, regulatory processes are delaying the deployment of new technologies, especially in the pilot phase.

The MCA recommends governments should establish regulatory sandboxes for the mining industry so that innovative concepts can be tested at a reduced scale, on a time-limited basis and with appropriate safeguards.

This would assist the evolution of game-changing technologies that are being developed.

There is more work to be done between industry and government to ensure practical, efficient and effective outcomes.

These recommendations form a solid basis for ensuring we accelerate the process of innovation.

The industry is ready to take on this challenge and reaffirm Australia’s mining position as a global leader, not only in supplying the minerals required for modern life and the global transition to a net zero economy, but doing it in a safer, more productive and sustainable way.