Digital transformation makes operations more sustainable
While mining and metals companies have made inroads into addressing environmental and climate change concerns, the discussion on sustainability has expanded beyond these concerns — it’s no longer just about the environment, health and safety, and the workforce.
Increasingly, societal expectations, regulatory scrutiny, and new, post-pandemic business challenges have redefined what more sustainable mining and metals mean. On top of that, mining and metals companies focusing on accessing capital from various financing sources must prove that their operations can meet the planet's needs, people and profits.
The Rush to Greener Mining and Metals
“The expanded discussion of sustainability includes addressing the concerns of local and global governments, local communities, citizens, workers and consumer values,” says Thomas Grand, Vice President of the Energy and Materials industry, Dassault Systèmes.
“Local communities want health and safety assurances in mining and metals operations as it is not only co-located with their communities, but it is where many community members work. Related to that, mining and metals companies need to continue improving their ability to attract more local employment.
“Traceability is increasingly becoming more important to the end consumer, who want to ensure that they buy products made with metals from non-exploitative mines or recycled sources — the mining and metals supply chain becomes more sustainable when recycling becomes a part of the mix.”
As companies are seeking to become more sustainable, they are faced with an additional challenge: Resource depletion. This is making resources harder to access and process and, as a result, more earth needs to be moved in increasingly remote locations. Innovation to be more efficient is required in addition to increased use of renewable energy and electrification of fleets.
“Although the rate of digital transformation in the mining and metals industry is picking up, it is slower than the rate at which society expects us to change,” says Michelle Ash, CEO of the Dassault Systèmes GEOVIA brand and Chair of the Global Mining Guidelines Group. “We've got this ever-widening gap between our capabilities, no matter how much they're improving, and the capabilities that society expects us to have as mining companies — and that's why, we have stakeholders that have started to become very vocal.“
The post-pandemic landscape for mining and metals poses several questions:
- First, are mining and metals companies able quickly transform how they work to address the concerns of key stakeholders who want a more efficient and safer workplace — such as remote work or new technology in mining?
- Second, are these companies able to foresee and adapt — and not merely respond — to unpredictable commodity price swings and changing market sentiments?
- Third, can they demonstrate their sustainability credentials to the right stakeholders and secure funding — the lifeblood of large organizations — that sits behind stringent sustainability requirements?
The companies that are able to answer these questions will be able to stake a claim at the forefront of the new, greener frontier that awaits mining and metals, regardless of the uncertainties that lie ahead.
That is because the ability to answer these questions is predicated on being able to navigate uncertainties and be flexible and agile enough to work around disruptions. These are precisely the qualities that will propel mining and metals companies to the lead.
Take the Next Great Leap Forward to Greener Mining & Metals
Proven digital solutions — that have been tested in many hypercomplex industries — enable mining and metals companies to create a complete virtual model (a virtual twin) of their operations from one end of the value chain to the other. At Dassault Systèmes, we go one step further than this with what we call a 3DEXPERIENCE twin.
Discover how you can enable complete pit-to-port optimization — from geological modelling and mine engineering, to workforce and production scheduling, supply chain optimization, portfolio optimization, plant design, engineering and construction, logistics planning and more.
Learn how a platform that delivers a single source of truth to everyone, everywhere gives you the key to unlock the capabilities of complete digital transformation and experience the new reality of more sustainable mining and metals.
Resource: https://www.3ds.com/industries/infrastructure-energy-materials/green-mining-metals
Related posts:
