ABB: Electrification Could Make Mining Sustainable
From solar panels and wind turbines to smartphones and kettles, every aspect of modern daily life is tied to mining.
This industry, crucial for technological advancements, is responsible for up to 7% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.
It can also bring significant environmental impacts, including overuse of water, destruction of natural habitats and the depletion of resources.
But there is a silver lining on the horizon.
A report by ABB indicates optimism within industry leadership about tackling these challenges.
A striking 70% of mining leaders are convinced that the tools needed for decarbonisation are already available.
“There is real excitement among business leaders about the role they are playing in supporting the green energy transition and they are taking the issue of mining’s impact on our environment seriously,” says Max Luedtke, Global Business Line Manager for Mining at ABB Process Industries.
“We see this in the successful roll-out and progress towards sustainability targets, the willingness to invest to reach these goals and the availability of technology that can make real progress, now.
“However, we must not think it is ‘job done’. A significant minority are struggling to meet their goals.”
Mining leaders "confident" about decarbonisation
ABB surveyed 412 leaders and experts across 18 countries.
It reveals that a majority, 70% of those questioned, is confident that significant decarbonisation is achievable with currently available technologies.
Additionally, electrification and digital tech are seen as critical levers for this transformation.
When looking at sustainability targets set for 2030, confidence is mixed, albeit still positive, with 15% feeling very confident and 52% somewhat confident in their achievement.
The confidence index improves looking ahead to 2050, with 48% feeling "very confident" about meeting these long-term objectives.
A promising 81% of respondents indicate plans to evolve or transform their operations within the next five years, indicating significant shifts towards more sustainable practices.
Challenges in decarbonising mining
Despite leaders' confidence, the journey towards a fully sustainable mining industry is not without its obstacles.
According to ABB's survey, 44% of leaders identify a lack of expertise and skills as significant barriers to decarbonisation.
Concurrently, 46% highlight operational disruptions and production risks as major concerns in pursuing sustainable transformations.
The same survey notes that leaders recognise the requirement for a new approach to both technology and risk management as critical for transitioning to greener practices.
However, as new technologies come on board, 73% of leaders are excited about the fresh opportunities this evolution could present.
ABB’s role in sustainable mining practices
With more than 130 years in the mining sector, ABB leverages its experience through a holistic framework called eMine.
This initiative is designed to support the electrification of mining operations from their initial design to ongoing services.
By focusing on all-electric solutions, every electrified truck in the mining process can potentially prevent the release of 198,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide daily.
Anke Hampel, Group Head of Sustainability at ABB, says: “ABB with its leading electrification and automation technologies has always helped its customers to run at high performance and become more productive, efficient and sustainable so they can outperform.
“ABB's new brand positioning sums up perfectly how we are helping to tackle our customers' challenges. I am proud to be part of this effort as at ABB, everything we do is Engineered to Outrun.”
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