Skillings Mining Review September 2020: September 2020 marked a challenging moment for the global mining sector, where safety, economics, and technology intersected against the backdrop of Covid-19. In the Americas, fatal falls in mining operations were reported to be on the rise, drawing attention to long-standing worker safety concerns. At the same time, the U.S. steel industry faced losses of nearly $600 million, a stark indicator of pandemic-induced demand pressures. Production was gradually rebounding, however, with Hibbing Taconite announcing pellet production would resume in early August.
The industry also reflected on its deep history, commemorating the 136th anniversary of the first shipment of iron ore, even as contemporary challenges loomed. Mineral plans in Alaska’s NANA region were stalled by Covid-19, while regulatory scrutiny intensified over underground seepage at Minntac. The political landscape wasn’t far behind, as mining divisions escalated tensions in the DFL Duluth Senate race, framing it as a “race of consequences.”
Innovation remained a counterweight to disruption. Sandvik prepared its Innovation in Mining online event, spotlighting digital transformation, while Inmarsat showcased how satellite IoT was reshaping connectivity in mining. On the equipment front, advances spanned continents: SASOL launched Enaex Africa with a Chilean partner, Zyfra trialed 5G mining dump trucks in Russia, and Nazomi Networks moved to expand cybersecurity for digital mining. De Beers, however, announced job cuts, a reminder of Covid-19’s continued human toll on the sector.
Globally, Poland scaled back coal mining amid a surge in Covid-19 cases, and Indonesia expanded its mining value proposition. AI and automation dominated strategy discussions: Komatsu’s Autonomous Haul System celebrated its 3 billionth metric ton moved, while BASF’s smart mining AI solutions and the Oren Marketplace’s AI scaling ambitions highlighted the accelerating digitalization trend. In the U.S., the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission extended the deadline for Minnesota Power’s Integrated Resource Plan, underscoring how utilities and mining remain closely intertwined.
The statistics of the month painted a mixed picture. June 2020 crude steel production underscored the uneven global recovery, while iron ore data from April 2020 offered insight into how supply and demand shocks rippled through the sector earlier in the year.
The September 2020 issue captures an industry balancing history and future: grappling with safety and financial strain while embracing digitization, AI, and sustainable extraction methods to secure resilience in the post-pandemic era.
