Being socially responsible because you want to is not the same as being socially responsible because you have to.
Mining companies are now trying to conduct valuable strategies to meet environmental requirements! However, the companies’ requirements differ from their net-zero or sustainability plans. Most mining companies only pursue their operations in a way that meets their obligations, but we know that more is needed, especially when tackling the climate crisis. Another fact is that it is not pretty; mining companies sometimes tend to use some bureaucratic barriers to excuse their lack of implementation because it also brings more work, cost and challenge.
Mining drivers can grab several opportunities to not only clean the negative thoughts in the people’s brains but also give epitomes to the other sectors that collaborated with miners. However, all mining engineers must stay up-to-date with emerging trends and technologies. Before getting my environmental degree, I was not even aware of how much the mining industry would affect other steps regarding sustainability from beginning to end. Since the mining business is integrated with several disciplines, it makes a chain that starts a domino effect with business. Conducting EIA on the mine sites, benefiting more green technologies, which helps to diminish the carbon footprint of operations, and managing old mine wastes differently could be solutions in terms of sustainability. However, first, we must notice how significant integrating advanced technologies is in the mining industry. This is paramount as it supports upgrading our work conditions and protecting the mining community.
The demand for minerals obtained through mining has been proliferating over the years. However, this comes with a range of risks for those involved in the industry. Miners are urged to shift away from traditional production methods and embrace digitalisation to adapt to the latest technological advancements and keep up with changing times. A recent survey by PwC highlights that a significant 41% of mining CEOs believe that their companies will not be able to sustain themselves economically beyond the next ten years unless they make the necessary strides towards achieving advanced mining levels. But we can still see the glass half full. This is an opportunity to demonstrate the need to rethink mining.
If we look at some incentives, seeing that mining activities worldwide are accountable for generating 4-7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, as reported by Global Data in 2021. Several measures can be undertaken to mitigate the environmental impact of mining, including using renewable energy sources, energy-efficient techniques, electrification of mining equipment, and hydrogen-based transportation methods. These sustainable practices are expected to gain more traction in the mining industry in the future. Key players in the mining sector are already adopting these strategies with significant success. There are some beauties here. The Sibanye-Stillwater mine in South Africa has cut down energy consumption by 62% by installing an efficient ventilation system. Rio Tinto, the world’s second-largest mining company, has increased work efficiency by 20%, reducing fuel consumption and expenses by utilising autonomous vehicles in their Gudai-Darri mine in Western Australia. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power are the most reliable means of decarbonising mining operations. Codelco, the owner of a copper mine in Chile, has managed to decrease CO2 emissions by 15,000 tons per year by installing solar panels at their mine site while earning $2 million. Furthermore, according to their analysis, Anglo American are implementing a project that employs hydrogen-powered trucks at the Mofalakwena mine, which reduces over 2,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. That means that therecorded data obtained from multiple applications can be transformed to yield better efficiency and cost results, which would greatly benefit miners.
And speaking about utilising old mine wastes.. The current mining processes primarily focus on extracting minerals from primary resources, with limited emphasis on recovering secondary resources due to the weak technology in this area. Consequently, the lack of attention to secondary resource recovery results in inefficiencies and higher costs associated with acquiring these resources. Therefore, digitalisation plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges and improving the efficiency of mining operations at every step. In this way, both the quality of the operations will be increased, and the cooperation between those working on the subject will be improved.
All in all, to navigate the responsible mining approach, technological improvements must first be made. By providing this, the mining industry will ensure social responsibilities.
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