The pandemic is accelerating investment in automation and technology upgrades by mining companies to reduce the numbers of staff on site, according to the chief executive of the world’s largest mining drilling equipment manufacturer.Miners were already updating equipment to cope with lower grade material and deeper mines, which often involve more water. They have also been responding to pressure from investors to reduce carbon emissions. More are using electric trucks, for example, and every big miner now has a net zero carbon target.
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“Given the pandemic, that has really been identified as an area where automation and digitalisation can help. With connected machines, when you send a technician to site, you know what the problem is. If anything, the pandemic has increased the transition to new technology,” she told the Financial Times.
Ms Hedblom said the mining industry had “huge potential” to improve sustainability, safety and productivity. The average age of mining equipment is increasing, she added, offering opportunities both in new sales and in servicing older machinery.
Chief of machinery maker Epiroc says interest in automation and electrification is ‘coming from everywhere’
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