Technology ready for mining decarbonisation
There is confidence among mining leaders that the industry will hit their sustainability goals with the current technologies available, finds an ABB report.
The study reveals 70% of mining leaders believe existing technologies are ready to tackle sustainability issues.
A minority state they are very confident of hitting their sustainability targets by 2030. This increases when setting a target of 2050, according to the Mining’s Moment report.
The survey stresses that investment in people, technology and processes will progress businesses to their environmental, sustainability and governance (ESG) goals.
The research saw 412 mining professionals surveyed, with 91% saying integrated electrification, automation and implementation of digital technologies are key technology areas if the targets are to be met.
Further findings are:
- 46% of respondents say the risk to disruption of operations and production is a barrier to their sustainable transformation.
- 73% believing mining transformation requires a new approach to technology and risk management.
- 53% of the respondents anticipate significant or complete transformation of their mining operations over the next five years.
- 15% are very confident they will hit their 2030 sustainability targets, while 52% are quite confident. This rises to 48% of being very confident when considering 2050 sustainability targets.
- 53% are anticipating significant transformation or complete overhaul to investment in sustainable technologies; 28% are investing in moderate evolution; 19% are investing in incremental change.
