Mining projects across Africa are adopting digital tools to accelerate and simplify mineral exploration and production, reduce operational costs and improve worker safety and environmental sustainability. Last month, Botswana Diamonds launched an exploration campaign leveraging AI to detect and map diamonds and other critical minerals across the southern African country. The mining company is using the Xplore mineral prospectivity technology, developed by technology firms Planetary AI and the International Geoscience Services, to identify and address operational gaps across the entire mining value chain. The project will be critical to transforming Botswana from a coal, gold and diamond producer to a dynamic critical minerals hub.

The Critical Minerals Africa 2024 summit on November 6 - 7 serves to position Africa as the primary investment destination for critical minerals. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2024 conference on November 4 - 8, offering delegates access to the full scope of energy, mining and finance leaders in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting [email protected]

Similarly, Swiss commodity trading firm Glencore implemented a proximity detection technology – developed by solutions provider Newtrax – as part of the phase two expansion at its Kamoto Copper and Cobalt Mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in March. The system enhances Glencore’s real-time monitoring of underground operations, boosting safety and fast-tracking exploration and production activities. With the DRC ranking as the largest cobalt producer and second-largest copper miner globally, the success of the project is crucial in maintaining the country’s standing within the global critical minerals market.

In Zambia, mining startup KoBold Metals is utilizing AI technology to advance exploration and drilling at the Konkola West Copper Project. The company is investing $2.3 billion over the next 8-10 years to develop the Mingomba Copper Mine, maximizing the use of disruptive technologies to advance the mine’s development and move Zambia closer to its goal of increasing output to 3 million tons per annum by 2030. Meanwhile, Canadian mining company First Quantum Minerals is utilizing NextOre’s ore detection technology to streamline processing at Zambia’s Kansanshi Copper Mine, while global mining company Anglo American employs data science to optimize operations and reduce costs at its Mogalakwena Platinum Mine in South Africa. CMA 2024 will spotlight the latest advancements in mining technologies, showcasing Africa’s potential as not only an extractive sector leader, but also a digital hub.