**Canada**: As the mining and metals industry faces uncertainty in 2024, new initiatives from the Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies aim to enhance supply chain resilience and efficiency through digitalisation, addressing challenges amidst rising operational costs and geopolitical volatility.
In the context of the mining and metals industry, 2024 has been characterised by uncertainty, leading to a projected focus on resilience for 2025. This shift is particularly evident in the management and adaptation of supply chains amidst increasing global geopolitical volatility and escalating demand for minerals and metals, driven primarily by the energy transition and a burgeoning global population.
Governments around the world are prioritising the acceleration of domestic production and export readiness as essential components of securing critical metals for future needs. With this backdrop, mining and metals organisations face the challenge of balancing production pressures, rising operational costs, and the demands for greater transparency and social responsibility from various stakeholders.
In Canada, the Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies, known as DIGITAL, is set to launch a new programme with a specific focus on digitalisation in the mining and metals sector. Nadia Shaikh-Naeem, Vice President of Programmes at DIGITAL, highlighted the significant lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic regarding supply chain resilience. Speaking to the Skillings Mining Review, she remarked, “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of supply chain resilience; that was a big wake up call for the world.”
Shaikh-Naeem elaborated on how recent political upheaval and climate change impacts have prompted countries, including Canada, to reassess how they manage their natural resource flows, aiming to realise their needs through domestic extraction, processing, and marketing. Canada holds a strong position in the global mining landscape, with a market capitalisation of C$336.7 billion as of 2023 and mineral exports totalling C$153.2 billion in 2022.
“Canada already has a leadership position in terms of access to resources,” Shaikh-Naeem added. She underscored the necessity for a concerted effort to enhance supply chain security and build resilience among companies while fostering responsible and sustainable practices in local communities.
The potential for digital technologies to enhance resilience and efficiency throughout the mining and metals supply chain is immense. Shaikh-Naeem noted that although mining companies recognise the advantages of digitalisation, they often implement solutions in isolated parts of the process—such as extraction, processing, or transport—rather than viewing the entire value chain. She stated, “When it comes to tying those applications together and ensuring a seamless flow of data, there’s a lot of value being left on the table.”
There are several challenges hampering the mining sector’s digital transformation, including issues around data standardisation and the integration of legacy systems which are often treated as static entities. Shaikh-Naeem explained the importance of adopting a systems thinking approach, stating, “Companies are increasingly realising the importance of systems thinking and the value that collaborative innovation can provide in digital innovation and transformation.”
An initiative worth noting is the Mining Microbiome Analytics Platform (M-MAP), which is soon to rebrand as nPhyla. This project, supported by DIGITAL, facilitated collaboration among competitors and companies across the mining value chain to explore the role of microbes in mining applications.
DIGITAL’s facilitation of collaborative spaces allows companies to share challenges and innovate without the pressures of competition, an approach that is increasingly necessary if miners are to address efficiency and productivity challenges effectively.
“Data is fundamental to solving industry-level challenges,” Shaikh-Naeem asserted, highlighting that initial discussions within project consortiums often revolve around data management. Protecting sensitive data while fostering collaboration remains a key concern for companies exploring joint innovation.
As the mining and metals sector approaches the complexities of digital transformation, Shaikh-Naeem expressed optimism about the future of Canadian mining. She anticipates that DIGITAL’s new programme will be a critical driver of resilience and competitiveness, projected to launch in March. “We’re now in our sixth year as an organisation, and we’ve got a strong portfolio of mining and metals projects. The opportunities that we see within the sector were the inspiration for putting a dedicated call together,” she said.
In the evolving landscape of mining, a symbiotic relationship between technology and operations is viewed as essential for success. Shaikh-Naeem described mine sites as “living, breathing entities” that require ongoing care and respect, an ethos that aligns with the potential for sustainable practices drawn from Indigenous and First Nation cultures.
As the industry prepares for a dynamic future, Shaikh-Naeem expressed her hopes for Canadian mining: “I think we could be in a place where we feel that the mining sector is doing right by society, and society in turn more fully supports the sector,” she said. She underscored the need for economic strength deriving from robust and resilient supply chains, bolstered by a commitment to sustainability and community engagement.
The developments emerging from DIGITAL’s initiatives and the broader mining sector encapsulate a critical moment in the shift toward resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in the mining and metals industry.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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