SA mines urged to quickly to benefit from technology innovations

South Africa’s mining industry needs to move quickly to take advantage of the opportunities and mitigate the risks inherent in the onset of disruptive technology innovations to remain competitive, advises management consultancy Datta Burton & Associates (DBA). DBA partner Aaron Burton tells Mining Weekly that while mines in South Africa are currently not designed for such innovations, such as autonomous vehicles, mining majors Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton are making significant strides in developing the technology in locations where they operate to gain a competitive advantage over slower-moving competitors.