- ABB’s surveyed 412 mining leaders and experts about current progress on sustainability plans and the path to achieve them
- 77 percent see electrification, automation and digital technologies as key to successful, sustainable transformation of mining
- 53 percent of the respondents anticipate significant or complete transformation of their mining operations over the next five years
ABB today releases a global report “Mining’s Moment” that highlights the progress being made by the mining industry to make operations more sustainable. Surveying 412 mining leaders and experts across 18 countries, the report finds that 70 percent of mining leaders are confident that significant decarbonization can be achieved with existing technologies. There is notable confidence amongst business leaders that they will achieve their sustainability targets because the technology to decarbonize exists: 15 percent are very confident they will hit their 2030 sustainability targets, while 52 percent are quite confident. This rises to 48 percent of being very confident when considering 2050 sustainability targets.
77 percent of mining leaders surveyed see integrated electrification, automation and implementation of digital technologies as the key areas of technology through which sustainability goals can be achieved. Ambitious plans are in place to invest in technologies which will make operations more sustainable: 53 percent are anticipating significant transformation or complete overhaul; 28 percent are investing in moderate evolution; 19 percent are investing in incremental change. This means 81 percent are looking to evolve or transform their operations to become more sustainable.
This report is the latest installment of ABB’s Real Progress campaign, which aims to showcase the power of technology and expertise to accelerate sustainability while enhancing productivity. Mining in particular faces a challenging environment, where it must increase production to provide the raw materials for the green energy transition while limiting, and reducing where possible, its environmental impact. The report reveals an industry rising to that challenge: 73 percent said they were excited about the opportunities presented by the increasing recognition of mining’s role in supplying resources for green technologies.
Most respondents said their business is committed to reskilling and training for decarbonization. Image iStock 
Electrification of the largest mining trucks in the industry is happening today in mines around the world. Image Copper Mountain 
The mining industry sees people as the main driver of sustainable change. Mining companies partner with ABB to create the technologies that will help create automated and safer mines. Image ABB 
Most respondents said integrated electrification, automation and digitalization are essential for the transformation of mining. Image ABB 
Mining companies and partners collaborate with ABB to create the technologies that will help meet net zero targets faster. Image ABB
“There is real excitement amongst 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,” said Max Luedtke, Global Business Line Manager for Mining, 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. Our report outlines three key areas where investment can help mining businesses become more sustainable, step-by-step: investing in their people; investing in technology; and investing in their processes.”
The report finds that by investing in people, technology and processes, mining businesses can continue to make good progress towards their sustainability goals:
- 44 percent surveyed said that limited expertise and skills are a significant barrier to decarbonizing. 70 percent of respondents said their business is committed to reskilling and training existing employees to support decarbonization efforts.
- 70 percent surveyed said they believe significant decarbonization can be achieved using existing technologies. Electrification is seen as a major contributor to being able to achieve significant decarbonization gains; 91 percent of business leaders said electrification is essential to, or part of, their decarbonization strategy.
- 46 percent of respondents say the risk to disruption of operations and production is a barrier to their sustainable transformation, highlighting the need for a new approach to systems and processes. This is backed up by the report respondents, with 73 percent believing mining transformation requires a new approach to technology and risk management.
ABB’s Process Automation business automates, electrifies and digitalizes industrial operations that address a wide range of essential needs – from supplying energy, water and materials, to producing goods and transporting them to market. With its ~20,000 employees, leading technology and service expertise, ABB Process Automation helps customers in process, hybrid and maritime industries improve performance and safety of operations, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. go.abb/processautomation
ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated. Building on over 140 years of excellence, ABB’s more than 105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation.www.abb.com
