Opportunity Issue 108

MINING TECHNOLOGY
Some of South Africa’s
biggest mining companies
have set ambitious targets
to achieve net-zero carbon
emissions by 2050
Rudie Opperman of
Axis Communications
to global recommendations, such as those laid out by the G20’s
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
An amendment was made to South Africa’s Electricity Regulation
Act in October 2021 to raise the electricity generation licence
exemption threshold from 1MW to 100MW. This amendment serves
to enable more independent power producers (IPPs) to participate
in the energy market without the need for a licence. In April 2022,
the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy launched a
bidding window for the Renewable Energy Independent Power
Producer Procurement Programme. Onshore wind and solar power
projects are also being developed across South Africa, and many
mining companies are turning to them for electricity because of
Eskom’s high tariffs and unreliability.
The need for technological innovation
Mining companies need to develop sustainable solutions to tackle
the many challenges and opportunities that come with this shift
towards greener energy and greater social and environmental
responsibility. While national frameworks and policies help
regulate mining activities, not all mines implement best practices
to mine sustainably.
In early 2021, Minerals Council South Africa published a report
highlighting how the country’s mining industry was increasing
its use of technological innovation to transform the sector.
Investments in 4IR-enabled digital technologies are helping
mining companies become more globally competitive, as well as
improve the health and safety of their operations.
South Africa has some of the deepest mines in the world
and a historically poor safety record. And while mining
fatalities in South Africa have reached record lows over the
last decade, there was an 18% increase in 2020 in accidents
related to falling rocks and transportation. Mining companies
can use smart surveillance solutions in a variety of ways to
ensure the safety of employees. Cameras equipped with deep
learning-based analytics, for example, can monitor a variety of
hazards and create proactive warnings.
These cameras can detect when personnel are not wearing
protective equipment or ensure areas of a mine don’t become
dangerously overcrowded. They could also be used to monitor
dust clouds, which can pose a significant health risk to the work
environment and surrounding communities.
An opportunity for transformation
Surveillance technologies can improve the operational efficiency
and physical security of mining operations and help mines
monitor and mitigate risks to employees, the community and the
environment. These technologies represent an opportunity for a
real transformation of South Africa’s mining sector: companies that
are pivoting towards more sustainable practices must leverage
new technologies to their advantage. As South Africa’s mining
sector gradually transitions from fossil-fuel dependency and with
a renewed focus on social and environmental concerns, mining
companies cannot afford to continue with outdated practices and
limited technological innovation. The future of our economy – and
our planet as a whole – depends on it.
Top: Several mining companies are exploring renewable energy options. Exxaro has a renewable energy subsidiary, Cennergi. A mini-grid at
Tshikondeni is shown here. Credit: Exxaro
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