The Skillings Mining Review March 2021 edition puts the spotlight on The Rise of Robotics in Mining, our cover story exploring how automation and advanced robotics are redefining efficiency, safety, and productivity across global mining operations. From robotic drilling to autonomous haulage systems, the industry is entering a transformative era that balances workforce adaptation with the promise of unprecedented technological gains.
In the Americas section, we track market-defining shifts: iron ore’s leap into the new year, copper hitting fresh highs as COVID-19 disrupts South American operations, and speculation over steel prices reaching $1,000/ton. Komatsu’s MC51 hard rock cutting machine, slated for Vale’s Garson mine by April, signals another breakthrough in mechanized mining. Meanwhile, Quebec spares its mining sector from new restrictions, and Alicanto Minerals expands into Sweden’s historic Sala Silver Mine.
In Equipment, we look beyond robotics to broader digital transformation: how Tata Communications leverages cloud and IoT for enterprise solutions, and why partnerships remain essential in mining’s tech journey.
The Global section highlights challenges and opportunities on a broader scale: Coal India’s plans to diversify into non-coal resources, geopolitical tensions over space mining between the U.S., China, and Russia, and the ongoing toll of COVID-19 on South African mineworkers. Daily desilting practices underscore the operational importance of mine pond management.
Our Statistics section anchors these developments with critical production data, noting a 0.9% decline in global crude steel output in 2020, alongside November 2020 crude steel figures.
Together, Skillings Mining Review March 2021 showcases an industry at the nexus of technological revolution, market volatility, and pandemic resilience—with robotics leading the charge into mining’s future.
