Mining’s Next Frontier
Ontario bets big on mining innovation
The world of technology is advancing exponentially, with Ontario leading the way in mining innovation. The industry is on the verge of major change. However, accompanying this immense opportunity is an equally large risk, and companies should proceed with caution when looking to implement technology in their operations.
The government of Ontario announced in May 2024 that it will be extending the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF) for another three years, investing an additional C$15 million in projects across the province. From 2022 up to the announcement, 12 projects had received grants from the fund, aiming to bolster Ontario’s wider critical minerals strategy and help Canada become a leader in sustainable mining and the low-carbon energy transition.
“This shift is accompanied by increased provincial, federal and venture capital investment in mining tech across Canada, highlighting significant growth opportunities. As these technologies are integrated into operations, they not only create new jobs but also prepare the next generation of workers in the industry,” said Don Duval, CEO of NORCAT.
NORCAT operates its Underground Centre out of Sudbury, aimed at increasing skills training and testing new technologies in the real world. Throughout 2024, the organization saw an increase in the use of augmented and virtual reality training technologies, run by the Studio NORCAT division, signaling a bright future for such technologies in mining.
Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (Ngen) is a not-for-profit innovation fund that looks to provide funding for projects in sectors changing the world as we know it, from medicine to housing and mining. In late 2023, the organization launched its Moonshot 4 Mining, Minerals and Manufacturing (M4M3) initiative. The C$5 million program is aimed at bolstering Canadian industry and hopes to position the country at the forefront of innovation in both terrestrial and lunar mining environments.
Destiny Copper aims to bring a low-energy, low-cost copper extraction technology to the market and has received several grants for their work to aid in development, including a C$909,000 grant from Ngen and a C$250,000 grant from the CMIF. “We are receiving tremendous backing and support from the federal and provincial governments,” said founder and CEO Greg Hanna.
Ontario is recognized around the world as one of the best places for start-ups aiding in the low-carbon energy transition, and Destiny Copper is just one example of a global success that began in the province. “Destiny Copper has been selected into the World Economic Forum’s 3-year cohort program, made up of only 13 cleantech mining companies globally, following hundreds of applications internationally,” shared Hanna.
This support extends to companies across the province, including Wabi Iron & Steel Corp (Wabi) based in New Liskeard. Darryl Gutscher, president, shared his experience: “Government support for Wabi has been spectacular. Provincial and federal governments have recognized the benefit of having a foundry located where we are, leading to them being very supportive and interested in what we do. The Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) is actively and organically promoting Wabi.”
The Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) is an organization established in 2007 looking to bring more investment to innovation in Ontario. The Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) program associated with CEMI triggered a tranche of C$2.5 million spread across 10 companies in 2024. Throughout the year, CEMI has increasingly looked to take Canadian innovations and spread them to other key mining jurisdictions. “We facilitated B2B engagements in South Africa, Chile and Mexico, bringing Canadian SMEs with innovative solutions to meet local counterparts. In Chile, for instance, we proposed 15 projects, and they selected 10 for local collaboration. This process yielded dynamic, active engagements and commercial opportunities and we plan to replicate this in future events - such as in Peru, where there is strong interest in innovation,” said Doug Morrison, CEMI’s president and CEO.
This demonstrates how both private and government entities support Canadian companies at the heart of innovation.
The uptake of technology in mining is clearly gaining traction. “The mining industry has been great at adopting new technology and trialing systems and equipment to discover whether we can carry out day-to-day operations in a greener and more efficient manner,” noted Hugh McDermid, VP product and business development at Miller Technology.
“It does seem no one wants to be first, but everybody is happy to be second. Developing a mine takes years, and incorporating untested technology is risky.”
Aaron Lambert, CEO and Founder, RIINO Inc.
However, McDermid admitted that there has been a mixed reception to implementing fleets of EVs in mining operations, suggesting there is still work to do before the electrification of mining is complete.
Automation and technology are gaining traction as new developments are released to the market. One of the prominent global drilling companies, Foraco International, is putting innovations such as automated and remote-control drill rigs to use in Ontario and overseas. “Ever since the first remote rigs were deployed in 2015, we have continued to reap the benefits by adopting this technology, which only continues to improve in terms of function and reliability,” said Tim Bremner, CEO of Foraco International.
The size of a mining operation is not a determining factor as to whether technology is adopted in the project. “Whether it is a major player or a smaller exploration company, they look for solutions to optimize their existing processes, and we help develop these improvements,” explained Benjamin St-Onge, regional manager, Canada for Axis Mining Technology.
In 2022, Axis Mining Technology was acquired by Australian company Orica Digital Solutions. The combination of Orica Digital Solutions’ suite of digital solutions with Axis Mining Technology’s geospatial tools and instruments provides an example to the rest of mining as to how technology and manufacturing can cooperate to produce better outcomes for the industry as a whole, bringing a better understanding of ore bodies.
Ash Agarwal, CEO of SymX.AI, believes that technology companies need to bring more of their innovations into mining: “Mining companies have indeed faced challenges in adopting technology, but this is not entirely their fault. There is a common stereotype that mining companies are old-fashioned, focusing mainly on geology and finance while neglecting technology. However, our interactions indicate that this is changing.”
Raffi Jabrayan, VP business development and commercial sales at Exyn Technologies agreed with McDermid and Agarwal, observing: “I have seen significant evolution in the mining industry over the past five years. While many companies were initially slow to adopt new technologies, those that prioritize safety and value their workforce are now more open to change,” he said.
In 2024, Exyn Technologies released a new line of products, the Nexys and the Nexys Pro. These allow previously drone-based solutions to be applied to more portable units, such as backpacks and handheld devices. “The most substantial ESG benefit of our technology is the drastic reduction in the time required for underground operations. Traditional methods might take hours to scan a certain area, while we can accomplish this in minutes,” continued Jabrayan.
“Generally, there is a wider acceptance of new technologies, and the mining industry is more willing to try new things, especially with trusted partners.”
Janina Elliott, Segment Director - Mining, Seequent
No magic switch
To meet the demands of new regulations surrounding net zero, as well as improve the safety and efficiency of the workforce, mining operations are turning to autonomous and electric technology to help bring ore out of the ground. However, despite clear indications of change, readiness to adopt new technologies has not been a universal experience, and there is still caution within the industry surrounding innovation.
RIINO Inc. is developing an electric rail system to electrify and increase the safety of haulage at mine sites. Despite support from companies like Agnico Eagle, Vale and Rio Tinto, RIINO Inc. has observed hurdles in getting widespread support for their start-up. “Mining companies are often conservative, and many are hesitant to adopt new technology without a proven track record. No one wants to be first, but everybody is happy to be second,” according to Aaron Lambert, CEO and founder of RIINO Inc.
Novamera’s CEO and co-founder, Dustin Angelo, shared Lambert’s experiences, finding that getting initial interest in a technology is the most challenging stage for a company. “As a start-up, building credibility and attracting the first customers is typically the biggest challenge. In the past year, we have turned a corner, adding early adopter customers and executing projects. It is because we have case studies, completed projects, and recently began using surgical mining planning software in our sales process.”
Reasons for this hesitancy vary from company to company, depending on the stage of an operation and the challenges the mining company is facing. “I think it is a combination of the current challenges in the market with funding and a perception that the technology is not quite where it needs to be. In early-stage projects looking ahead at future development operations, the reluctance is mostly around capital,” said Jennifer Berger, VP North America, Normet Canada.
Capital is not the only restricting factor around the implementation of technology. Some companies still require a shift in culture and understanding for the full benefit of Ontario’s innovations to be realized. “We often find that many companies lack the internal expertise, or in some cases, the expertise from vendors, to realize the true return on investment from these technologies,” said Daniel Pop, chair of Outliers Mining Solutions.
Implementing swathes of new technologies may not be right for all companies in the current market, and some will need to work on their projects to ensure the correct procedures are in place beforehand. “While we strive for more advanced technology, many companies do not have the infrastructure to effectively harness it. In some cases, advanced technology becomes a burden rather than a benefit. On the other hand, for some organizations, it is a significant advantage,” said Chad Tolonen, president of Timmins Mechanical Solutions.
Kevin Dagenais, CEO of Cascadia Scientific, which focuses on data analytics and machine learning solutions for the mining industry, highlighted how companies need to work alongside technology for it to be fully effective: “The biggest challenge is that our solutions are not quick fixes; they require effort and commitment. We collect data, identify opportunities, and collaborate with customers to implement changes. Success hinges on the customer’s willingness to act on our recommendations, as there are no ‘magic beans’ to solve their problems.”
Article header image courtesy of Agnico Eagle