Robots will run mines within the next decade - Anglo

[The_Assimilator]

So you don't see a problem from a group like NUM when suddenly 1000 miners are retrenched and replaced by 100 robots?

*Hypothetical scenario

Unions are as much about making money as they are looking after the interests of workers. For interests sake, in 2012 the NUM secretary was earning R105,000 per month. . .What do you think the reaction will be when suddenly their paying members start losing their jobs? Hell, unionists already kill one another in ''turf wars''. Unions are big business, there is a reason why even the Mafia muscled in on it in the States. They will resist anything that hits their pockets.

Except there's nothing the unions can do about it. If they or the government make, or attempt to make, automated mining impossible, Anglo et al will simply pack up and go elsewhere - the end result being a loss of even more jobs.

It's entirely possible that the ANC and unions are stupid enough to do this, but they will end up losing in the long run, so I honestly don't think Anglo cares too much. I'm sure Anglo already has very concrete plans for divesting from SA if worst comes to worst.

 

[thestaggy]

Except there's nothing the unions can do about it. If they or the government make, or attempt to make, automated mining impossible, Anglo et al will simply pack up and go elsewhere - the end result being a loss of even more jobs.

It's entirely possible that the ANC and unions are stupid enough to do this, but they will end up losing in the long run, so I honestly don't think Anglo cares too much. I'm sure Anglo already has very concrete plans for divesting from SA if worst comes to worst.

You assume that unions in SA think or behave rationally. You also underestimate their power/influence and willingness to hamper economic productivity in pursuit of their agendas.

This will not be an easy sell, never in a million years. It will be even harder to push if SA's current downward trend continues. The slower the economy gets and the more jobs are shed the greater the resistance will be.

 

[dlk001]

That's not going to happen in South Africa, not in the next 10yrs, with respect to most underground mining.

However, Open Pit and Open Cast Mining we already have robotic equipment mainly for efficiencies and safety.

Anglo American is exiting all underground mining around the world anyway. No Capital will be spent on new underground operations. Current group long term strategy is tier-one operations in Copper, Platinum and Diamonds.

 

[itareanlnotani]

You assume that unions in SA think or behave rationally. You also underestimate their power/influence and willingness to hamper economic productivity in pursuit of their agendas.

This will not be an easy sell, never in a million years. It will be even harder to push if SA's current downward trend continues. The slower the economy gets and the more jobs are shed the greater the resistance will be.

Well, if the government insists on its dilution of mining shares, then the mining industry will shut down.
Everyone will get fired.

 

[Nicodeamus]

That's not going to happen in South Africa, not in the next 10yrs, with respect to most underground mining.

However, Open Pit and Open Cast Mining we already have robotic equipment mainly for effeciencies and safety.

We have been replacing people with machinery for a long time. Most of the quality control labs world wide is already automated or semi automated.

Getting machines into deep mining is difficult, but if you look at quaries you find that they are operated with a small work force of 5-10 people. I would love to see how robot’s sensors are going to respond to all the dust down there and who is going to repair all the clogged up gears.

I dont see how robots are going to replace forklift and big machine operates any time soon. If anything the article is a bit sensational.

 

[ForceFate]

Except there's nothing the unions can do about it. If they or the government make, or attempt to make, automated mining impossible, Anglo et al will simply pack up and go elsewhere - the end result being a loss of even more jobs.

It's entirely possible that the ANC and unions are stupid enough to do this, but they will end up losing in the long run, so I honestly don't think Anglo cares too much. I'm sure Anglo already has very concrete plans for divesting from SA if worst comes to worst.

They're still in Zimbabwe I think

 

[Compton_effect]

You assume that unions in SA think or behave rationally. You also underestimate their power/influence and willingness to hamper economic productivity in pursuit of their agendas.

This will not be an easy sell, never in a million years. It will be even harder to push if SA's current downward trend continues. The slower the economy gets and the more jobs are shed the greater the resistance will be.

Remember the protests just before Marikana, ever wonder why there was not any action at the Iron Mines in places like Sishen?
There actually was, a small union decided to strike in solidarity with the others. The larger unions stopped them, because they knew that one of the new Kolomela pits already had a prototype Automated Haul Truck running in it.

 

[dlk001]

I dont see how robots are going to replace forklift and big machine operates any time soon. If anything the article is a bit sensational.

I agree too.

The article is actually based on factual "sensitive" information. I think Anglo has shown the media the same video I know with respect to "robotic mining" future. 10 years is sensationalism indeed.

I have seen the strategy because as GeoSciences (Planning, Geology, Survey, Geotechnical Engineering, Rock Engineering) we were asked about how our role will change in this future.

Its more of a sci-fi movie than anything at this stage.

We sponsor a huge mining virtual reliality project at Tuks Dept of Mining. This is an example of how Anglo sees Virtual Reality integrated into the future of planning and mining.

 

[Compton_effect]

I agree too.

The article is actually based on factual "sensitive" information. I think Anglo has shown the media the same video I know with respect to "robotic mining" future. 10 years is sensationalism indeed.

I have seen the strategy because as GeoSciences (Planning, Geology, Survey, Geotechnical Engineering, Rock Engineering) we were asked about how our role will change in this future.

Its more of a sci-fi movie than anything at this stage.

We sponsor a huge mining virtual reliality project at Tuks Dept of Mining. This is an example of how Anglo sees Virtual Reality integrated into the future of planning and mining.

I used to work for the Komatsu subsidiary working on the project. Underground Mines, sci-fi, all bets are off. Pit Mines - 10 years from now all haul trucks will be unmanned. Until now the issue has been bandwith, but they are leveraging off self driving tech.