Why MineSmart?
Mining and metals companies have to navigate immediate challenges, such as rising costs and supply chain disruption, while at the same time progressing their transformation into purpose-led, low-carbon, digitally enabled organizations. The risks and opportunities below, reflect the competing priorities for miners in a fast-changing, volatile world.
ESG
ESG remains the top risk and opportunity for mining and metals companies.
The issue is now firmly integrated within corporate strategies due to its impact on almost every aspect of operations.
Some of the greatest areas for ESG improvement are not new — improving diversity, equity and inclusion is still a major challenge, and mine closures and rehabilitation require a longer-term, more strategic view.
Integral to strategy, ESG’s scope is broadening, and pressure is growing to improve reporting and transparency
Climate Change
More miners are setting net-zero ambitions, but pathways to achieve these are sometimes unclear. Companies that explore a mix of options, including carbon offsets, partnering up and down the value chain and collaborating with suppliers and vendors to monitor Scope 3 emissions, can build a proactive strategy to address a risk that is likely to become even more complex.
Net-zero pathways are set but achieving ambitions will require a realistic and balanced strategy as well as execution plans
Productivity and cost
Soaring inflation and talent costs are significantly increasing mining costs, squeezing productivity and delaying expansion plans.
With costs likely to remain high, more innovative approaches to managing variability, including improved modeling and digital twins, can unlock genuine productivity gains.
Managing variability though modeling and digital twins can help miners unlock sustainable savings
Workforce
Mining and metals companies face their greatest ever talent shortage following a massive wave of retirements and resignations. Replacing these workers and finding talent, re-skilling and up-skilling workers with critical skills will require a radical rethink of the sector’s approach to attracting, retaining and nurturing talent. With younger workers deterred by mining’s image, companies must double down on efforts to build a purposeful brand that aligns with today’s values.
Building a purposeful brand and a greater focus on re-skilling can help overcome talent shortages
Digital innovation
Companies are reaping significant cost, productivity and safety gains from the implementation of new technologies, including drones, remote operating centers and autonomous trucks.
But, despite encouraging progress, across the sector we still see a largely siloed approach to digital and innovation. A more integrated strategy across the value chain would increase ROI and help miners better tackle their most complex challenges, including ESG and productivity.
Investment in data capabilities will guide better, faster decisions.
License to operate
Miners face new expectations, including around contributing to livability and protecting cultural heritage. Long-standing challenges, such as strengthening Indigenous trust, require a more concerted effort. Organizations must go beyond what’s required by law and genuinely commit to furthering truth and reconciliation.
Ultimately, miners need to reframe LTO around long-term value creation, anchoring the brand to this positive impact.
License to operate, or acceptance and permission from communities and society, is one of the biggest risks to their business
The results we want for our clients
Our Services
Innovation & technology
Outcome:
Innovative new technologies, processes and methodologies that unlocks value. Making production safer, more efficient, cleaner, and less water and energy intensive.
Broad-scanning of step-change innovations and trends in technologies, processes and methodologies that will change the nature of ming
Data & analytics
Outcome:
Intelligent, connected, systemized and ultimately self-learning operations that pose zero harm to people and the environment, reduce costs, improve business productivity, and transform mining practices.
Develop, introduce, and support the transition towards using digital services, systems, digitized data and advanced analytics
Sustainable mining systems
Outcome:
Safer, more sustainable and efficient mines that are better harmonized with the needs of our host communities, environment and society.
Develop and introduce blueprints for sustainable mining that captures innovative thinking and enabling technologies
Future of work
Outcome:
The needed workforce composition, work configuration, locations where work is executed, and the required skills as shaped by technological change, shifting workforce demographics and attitudes, and a step-change in the approach to sustainability. Retain the social license to operate and secure your social license to innovate.
Design, introduce, and support the transition towards the future nature of work, the workplace and the workforce
