Mining Goes Digital – Mueller et al. (Eds)
© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-367-33604-2
25
Investing in engineering, research and education in Africa to derive
a roadmap for ensuring local digital mining success
Winfred Assibey-Bonsu
Gold Fields Ltd., Corporate Technical Services, Perth, Australia
ABSTRACT: This paper demonstrates that without a suitable pool of qualified mining
professionals, appropriate research and long-term strategic funding, mining innovation and
the move towards digital mining will all suffer. Through support of local tertiary engineering
education and digital mining research centres in the developing world, we not only immediately broaden the talent pool available to the discipline, but also achieve diversity and creativity in ideas and problem solving. Benefits are tangible and will be seen to bear significant
fruit in the medium to long-term, not only to students, countries and regions, but also for
large mining houses, junior exploration companies, shareholders and other stakeholders.
1 INTRODUCTION
Africa is richly endowed with many of the minerals and natural resources required both
locally and worldwide for innovation, technology and sustainable economic development
into the 21st century and beyond. As a major supplier of many of these minerals, there is
little doubt that the mining industry has and will continue to be one of the major engines
driving Africa’s economy.
Investment and funding of high level technical, mining engineering education and digital
mining research in the industry, will ensure both its survival as a critical economic cog and to
drive the growth and diversification required for long-term success. Decisions on such investments and funding for the future must therefore be strategic with long-term focus.
This paper puts in perspective the trends and challenges facing the mining industry, including those relating to digital mining. It considers how investment by certain major mining
countries into mining engineering education, research and digital mining innovation, have
generated billions of dollars of total exports, contributing materially towards industrialisation, growth, employment and GDP.
In a case study revolving around the two major African mining countries of South Africa
and Ghana, suggestions are made as to how governments in major African mining countries
could enter partnerships with industry, academic institutions and others, to facilitate education and research solutions. These include those relating to digital mining innovation, mining
engineering and other engineering disciplines. Some current digital mining initiatives being
implemented in industry are reviewed.
In tandem with the advancement of education and technology has come the explosion of
opportunities for young people to build their careers across a multitude of industries, most
especially in the developed world. The paper further discusses how major mining countries
are either struggling to maintain current enrolment numbers in mining engineering, and/or
the funding and research infrastructure necessary to further develop keen minds, with the
aim of providing suggestions as to how Africa and the developing world could avoid this
mining expertise gap.
© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-367-33604-2
25
Investing in engineering, research and education in Africa to derive
a roadmap for ensuring local digital mining success
Winfred Assibey-Bonsu
Gold Fields Ltd., Corporate Technical Services, Perth, Australia
ABSTRACT: This paper demonstrates that without a suitable pool of qualified mining
professionals, appropriate research and long-term strategic funding, mining innovation and
the move towards digital mining will all suffer. Through support of local tertiary engineering
education and digital mining research centres in the developing world, we not only immediately broaden the talent pool available to the discipline, but also achieve diversity and creativity in ideas and problem solving. Benefits are tangible and will be seen to bear significant
fruit in the medium to long-term, not only to students, countries and regions, but also for
large mining houses, junior exploration companies, shareholders and other stakeholders.
1 INTRODUCTION
Africa is richly endowed with many of the minerals and natural resources required both
locally and worldwide for innovation, technology and sustainable economic development
into the 21st century and beyond. As a major supplier of many of these minerals, there is
little doubt that the mining industry has and will continue to be one of the major engines
driving Africa’s economy.
Investment and funding of high level technical, mining engineering education and digital
mining research in the industry, will ensure both its survival as a critical economic cog and to
drive the growth and diversification required for long-term success. Decisions on such investments and funding for the future must therefore be strategic with long-term focus.
This paper puts in perspective the trends and challenges facing the mining industry, including those relating to digital mining. It considers how investment by certain major mining
countries into mining engineering education, research and digital mining innovation, have
generated billions of dollars of total exports, contributing materially towards industrialisation, growth, employment and GDP.
In a case study revolving around the two major African mining countries of South Africa
and Ghana, suggestions are made as to how governments in major African mining countries
could enter partnerships with industry, academic institutions and others, to facilitate education and research solutions. These include those relating to digital mining innovation, mining
engineering and other engineering disciplines. Some current digital mining initiatives being
implemented in industry are reviewed.
In tandem with the advancement of education and technology has come the explosion of
opportunities for young people to build their careers across a multitude of industries, most
especially in the developed world. The paper further discusses how major mining countries
are either struggling to maintain current enrolment numbers in mining engineering, and/or
the funding and research infrastructure necessary to further develop keen minds, with the
aim of providing suggestions as to how Africa and the developing world could avoid this
mining expertise gap.