Skillings Mining Review April 2020: April 2020 marked the moment when Covid-19’s disruption truly reverberated across the mining industry, exposing vulnerabilities in operations, supply chains, and workforce safety. In the Americas, Barminco secured a contract with Barrick for services at Hemlo in Canada, while elsewhere, shutdowns defined the month. Sunrise Mine announced its permanent closure, and Minnesota’s SME leaders cancelled their annual conference, a symbolic setback for the region’s mining community. The U.S. coal sector became the latest industry to lobby for coronavirus-related bailouts, underscoring the pandemic’s financial toll.
Companies sought resilience by focusing on efficiency. Outotec introduced an advanced in-situ carbon measurement system aimed at reducing gold losses in CIL/CIP circuits, while commentators weighed the true cost of mine shutdowns and the rewards of investing in reliable instrumentation. Fortescue looked to a rebound in China, even as steel backlogs mounted, and Beijing’s steel association warned of iron ore speculation risks amid volatile pricing. Safety anxieties grew after a Covid-19 patient attended the Toronto mining conference, prompting health alerts to 25,000 attendees, while workers tested positive at operations like Glencore’s Cannington mine.
Despite the uncertainty, mining continued to invest in people and technology. PYBAR launched a scholarship program to support the next generation of miners, while Rolls-Royce and ASI Mining formalized an MOU to advance autonomous solutions.
Globally, the headlines reflected adaptation and innovation under pressure. Critics accused miners and truckers of bending rules during the pandemic, even as companies like Barrick stockpiled supplies to safeguard continuity. Prices for silver and gold softened, though miners’ equities remained strong. In corporate developments, Equinox Gold and Leagold merged to create a premier Americas producer, while Emerald awarded a $366m contract to MACA.
Technology advanced in unexpected places: Sirius Minerals set a world record with vertical shaft sinking equipment, Ukraine’s DTEK deployed underground mine Wi-Fi, and Descartes Labs unveiled AI-driven mineral exploration tools. In Africa, women in Burkina Faso assumed more technical mining roles, while safety and training shifted online with Covid-19 forcing digital-first instruction models.
The statistics of the month offered perspective. Global crude steel output increased by 3.4%, but the January 2020 crude steel production report already reflected headwinds—an early indicator of the turbulence the sector would face throughout the year.
The April 2020 edition captures an industry in transition: from mine closures and bailouts to bold investments in digital exploration, automation, and workforce development—all under the shadow of an unfolding global pandemic.
