TECH-nically Not Laborious
Ontario’s innovators are using technology to overcome the talent shortage
Canada’s mining industry is expected to experience shortages of around 80,000 to 120,000 workers by 2030, according to the Mining Industry Human Resource Council’s 2020 Canadian Mining Labor Market 10-year Outlook. Firms are turning to technology as a solution. “The shortage of skilled labor is a critical driver of our investment in technology, particularly autonomous machinery. These machines offer distinct advantages, such as increased productivity as they can operate continuously between shifts and tackle high-risk tasks,” remarked Paul Healy, president Americas at Redpath Mining. “If people are not available, we can use a machine.”
DSI Underground Canada is approaching the problem from another angle, reducing the number of required staff to begin with. “We are developing virtual reality training programs…. These 3D training programs help mines leverage technology for training purposes, reducing the need for on-site training personnel,” said Paul Stephenson, regional CEO of North America.
Jannatec Technologies, a Sudbury-based radio communications company, is innovating to make mining more attractive to young talent. Originally, Jannatec developed SmartView, a modular underground wireless communication system, to enhance safety in mines. Now Jannatec is expanding into the mobile segment of the IoT space, as it provides an extra level of comfort, especially for new talent. “Clients increasingly want access to the same amenities available in a car or in their home, which we aim to realize in the future,” said Rey Boucher their president.
Leveraging technology to make mining safer and more comfortable is a surefire way of increasing its appeal to the young generation. This is especially true after the Covid pandemic when many people grew accustomed to working from the comfort of their own homes. Companies like Seequent, which offers earth modeling and geo-data management software to Ontario’s mining industry, provide solutions that reduce the travel requirements for mining professionals. “The need to adapt to cloud strategies and remote work became prominent due to the pandemic. In response, we have developed our EVO cloud strategy, which will be a cornerstone for new cloud-enabled applications,” said Rob Ferguson, segment director, exploration and resource management, at Seequent.
Sudbury, the mining tech Mecca
Executives from Timmins, Thunder Bay and the glass towers of Toronto all agree that Sudbury is the center of mining tech innovation. This comes with reason; the greater Sudbury area hosts nine operating mines, two mills, two smelters, and a nickel refinery. It also houses 300 mining supply and service firms, including 157 of MineConnect’s 260 members. Across North America, no mining tech hub looks more promising. “Sudbury is even surpassing places like Colorado, Nevada and Toronto when it comes to mining technology,” said Raffi Jabrayan, vice president of business development at Exyn Technologies.
There is currently ample funding available for mining technology innovation, including the Sudbury Catalyst Fund, a C$5 million venture capital fund accelerating the growth of tech start-ups in Sudbury. NORCAT, headquartered in Sudbury, is the only innovation center in the world that has an operating mine designed to enable start-ups, SMEs, and international companies to develop, test, and demonstrate emerging technologies that are poised to transform the global mining industry. Following its success, in 2022 NORCAT is due to host its Mining Transformed technology exhibition in its Underground Centre in May 2024, but this time, the Underground Centre will have some new additions: “In 2023, we welcomed the launch of the Rogers Technology Centre of Excellence at the Underground Centre, providing a place for Rogers to demonstrate the capabilities of 5G communications infrastructure to support underground mining operations. The collaborative exchange between Rogers and various use case technologies leveraging the 5G backbone has further contributed to the overall vibrancy of our unique ecosystem,” shared Don Duval, CEO, NORCAT.
“Sudbury is a hidden gem. The city boasts a robust economy, among the strongest in the province, with a thriving industrial sector. In my experience, the mining world feels interconnected, and Sudbury serves as a focal point.”
Tom Di Francesco, General Manager, B&D Manufacturing
Looking to the future, the greater Sudbury area has six post-secondary education institutions training the next generation of miners, while endeavoring to refresh the perception of mining in classrooms: “The Goodman School of Mines created and hosted a mine opportunity challenge for high school students to get them excited about mining,” said Marla Tremblay, executive director, MineConnect.
As new technologies emerge, the aging mining workforce will find it increasingly difficult to keep up to date with the most recent advancements, as their educations were centered around technologies that did not yet exist. “Canadian graduates with degrees in data science, ML, or AI typically want to work in glass towers and live in cities,” explained Kevin Dagenais, CEO, Cascadia Scientific.
Statistics Canada’s most recent Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy showed that Ontario’s mining industry adopted advanced clean technologies at higher rates than industries such as utilities and manufacturing. With so much innovation and research coming out of the town, Sudbury and its environs are likely to continue to attract large international companies from around the world such as Foraco, the third-largest global drilling company based on the number of drill rigs catering to the mining and water industries. “The Sudbury Basin, near our main office in North Bay, acts as an excellent testing and training ground for our crews engaged in intricate projects for Glencore and Vale throughout the year,” said Tim Bremner, CEO, Foraco International.
“Sudbury's concentration of mining companies, coupled with a culture of driving innovation, provided fertile ground for Riino to collaborate, receive feedback, and advance its monorail technology.”
Aaron Lambert, Founder and CEO, Riino Inc.
Article header image courtesy of IAMGOLD