Australian miners embracing automation, but skills gaps and costs remain concerns
Announcement posted by Newport Consulting 23 Jan 2018
For media inquiries, contact Prue Roberts from Manning & Co on 0421 551 915 or at prue@manningandco.com.au
EMBARGOED UNTIL
6:00AM WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018
EMBARGOED UNTIL
6:00AM WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 24 January, 2018. Sydney, Australia. The Australian mining sector is sustaining its positive outlook with Newport Consulting’s Mining Business Outlook Report – now in its eighth year of release – revealing the dark days of the sector’s downturn are well and truly over. However, the report, released today, shows mining leaders are now grappling with ongoing skills shortages and cost pressures.
According to the 2017-18 report, which features an exclusive interview with WA’s Mines and Petroleum Minister, The Hon. Bill Johnston MLA, the sentiment among the mining industry is positive. The number of miners showing cautious optimism has jumped 55 per cent since 2015, with almost three-quarters of leaders showing renewed confidence in the sector’s growth.
With automation fast becoming a reality for mining operations, other key takeaways from the report include a push from mining leaders to embrace new technology. Automation and Big Data are top of the agenda for mining leaders, with 21 per cent of respondents believing automated haulage vehicles will be the top technology influence to impact the marker over the coming year. Another key area of technology investment is drones, which are increasingly being used to map, survey and explore mines across the country.
Going forward, companies remain bullish on price forecasts, with more than half of mining leaders predicting an increase in pricing over the next 12 months. However, thermal coal remains the exception, with the commodity likely to face more headwinds than metallurgical coal.
Coinciding with a price growth is a noted rise in capital and investment spending. Following on from an uptick in spending in 2016, most miners will dig into deeper pockets, with 42 per cent of leaders moderately increasing spending in 2017-2018, up 23 per cent from 2016. Miners remain concerned about costs, particularly in energy and labour, with companies calling to Canberra to provide support in these areas.
With the Gig Economy set to redefine roles and disrupt job security for miners, Newport Consulting Managing Director, David Hand, says a spate of mining companies are concerned that Australia will face a growing skills gap, particularly in the areas of technology and automation.
“We spoke to many companies of all sizes that voiced concern over a widening skills gap, giving way to a pressing need to upskill and re-train the workforce. Miners must be able to meet the new digital demands of Australia’s mining future,” he said.
With a growing gap in the number of technical employees trained to manage future autonomous roles, Mr Hand said there were signs that the mining sector was getting on the front foot to ensure its workforce remains agile and flexible.
“Rio Tinto is a prime example of a company leading the field in this area, having recently partnered with the WA Government and TAFE Australia to provide vocational training in robotics for mining workers. The government should follow Rio Tinto’s lead to close this growing skills gap, which is occurring because of technology disruption.”
The report also showed that over one-third of leaders remain worried about the potentially adverse financial impacts of market consolidation and M&A activity, making some companies reluctant to form new partnerships.
However, as companies continue to look for high quality resource projects across the globe, and as market consolidation continues across geographical borders, Australian miners have been urged to embrace strategic partnerships to retain a competitive edge. ~ ENDS
For media inquiries, contact Prue Roberts from Manning & Co on 0421 551 915 or at prue@manningandco.com.au
The report, conducted annually since 2010 by Newport Consulting, canvasses the views of Australia’s mining industry leaders and technologists. It draws on in-depth interviews held between August and December 2017, with over 50 mining leaders. The report serves as an independent pulse-check of Australia’s mining industry.
About Newport Consulting (www.newportconsulting.com.au): Newport Consulting is an operational management consulting company that helps organisations improve their business performance through achieving operational excellence. Newport was founded in early 2006 and has worked with some of Australia and New Zealand’s leading organisations.
According to the 2017-18 report, which features an exclusive interview with WA’s Mines and Petroleum Minister, The Hon. Bill Johnston MLA, the sentiment among the mining industry is positive. The number of miners showing cautious optimism has jumped 55 per cent since 2015, with almost three-quarters of leaders showing renewed confidence in the sector’s growth.
With automation fast becoming a reality for mining operations, other key takeaways from the report include a push from mining leaders to embrace new technology. Automation and Big Data are top of the agenda for mining leaders, with 21 per cent of respondents believing automated haulage vehicles will be the top technology influence to impact the marker over the coming year. Another key area of technology investment is drones, which are increasingly being used to map, survey and explore mines across the country.
Going forward, companies remain bullish on price forecasts, with more than half of mining leaders predicting an increase in pricing over the next 12 months. However, thermal coal remains the exception, with the commodity likely to face more headwinds than metallurgical coal.
Coinciding with a price growth is a noted rise in capital and investment spending. Following on from an uptick in spending in 2016, most miners will dig into deeper pockets, with 42 per cent of leaders moderately increasing spending in 2017-2018, up 23 per cent from 2016. Miners remain concerned about costs, particularly in energy and labour, with companies calling to Canberra to provide support in these areas.
With the Gig Economy set to redefine roles and disrupt job security for miners, Newport Consulting Managing Director, David Hand, says a spate of mining companies are concerned that Australia will face a growing skills gap, particularly in the areas of technology and automation.
“We spoke to many companies of all sizes that voiced concern over a widening skills gap, giving way to a pressing need to upskill and re-train the workforce. Miners must be able to meet the new digital demands of Australia’s mining future,” he said.
With a growing gap in the number of technical employees trained to manage future autonomous roles, Mr Hand said there were signs that the mining sector was getting on the front foot to ensure its workforce remains agile and flexible.
“Rio Tinto is a prime example of a company leading the field in this area, having recently partnered with the WA Government and TAFE Australia to provide vocational training in robotics for mining workers. The government should follow Rio Tinto’s lead to close this growing skills gap, which is occurring because of technology disruption.”
The report also showed that over one-third of leaders remain worried about the potentially adverse financial impacts of market consolidation and M&A activity, making some companies reluctant to form new partnerships.
However, as companies continue to look for high quality resource projects across the globe, and as market consolidation continues across geographical borders, Australian miners have been urged to embrace strategic partnerships to retain a competitive edge. ~ ENDS
For media inquiries, contact Prue Roberts from Manning & Co on 0421 551 915 or at prue@manningandco.com.au
The report, conducted annually since 2010 by Newport Consulting, canvasses the views of Australia’s mining industry leaders and technologists. It draws on in-depth interviews held between August and December 2017, with over 50 mining leaders. The report serves as an independent pulse-check of Australia’s mining industry.
About Newport Consulting (www.newportconsulting.com.au): Newport Consulting is an operational management consulting company that helps organisations improve their business performance through achieving operational excellence. Newport was founded in early 2006 and has worked with some of Australia and New Zealand’s leading organisations.