Skillings Mining Review December 2020: December 2020 closed a turbulent year for the global mining industry, with companies balancing cautious optimism against lingering Covid-19 disruptions. In the Americas, U.S. Steel weighed a restart at Keetac, reflecting both improved Chinese demand for iron ore and the market’s persistent monthly volatility. Meanwhile, a U.S. bank’s £19.3 million funding for the UK’s TechMet underscored the rising strategic value of battery and critical minerals in a low-carbon future.
Technology continued to dominate strategic agendas. Komatsu’s push into autonomous haulage systems (AHS) showed how equipment suppliers positioned themselves as productivity partners in the Covid-19 era, while Freeport-McMoRan’s Grasberg mine remained emblematic of the balancing act between safety and output. Across the sector, Covid-19 accelerated eLearning adoption, reshaping training and compliance practices for remote and frontline workforces.
On the equipment side, Nevada Copper sought fresh funding for ramp-up, while Rockwell Automation launched a new digital control system for plant operations. Underground solutions also evolved, with jumbo drills and bolters adopting common platforms to streamline efficiency. Yet the pandemic’s shadow persisted, hitting drilling contractors and forcing business model adjustments.
Globally, Caterpillar sales fell, while African miners clashed with governments over a proposed chrome export tax. Kazakhstan’s Kaz Minerals suspended operations amid uncertainty, while in South Africa, the industry showed surprising resilience despite Covid-19. Remote work in mining gained momentum, with Emesent’s “industry-first” drone flight demonstrating how digital tools are reshaping mine surveying. Rare earth projects in the U.S. and Canada gathered pace, while thermal coal producers moved closer to exit strategies under investor pressure.
Steel remained the bedrock story. October crude steel production figures and new sustainable steel indicators highlighted the sector’s pivotal role in both economic recovery and decarbonization pathways. Iron ore futures in Dalian marked a sixth straight monthly gain, buoyed by strong steel demand — a trend that tied together supply chains from Brazil to China.
The December 2020 issue captures mining at an inflection point: weathering a crisis year while laying down the foundations of an automated, greener, and more resilient future.
