Forbes Asia - June 2018

Iron Ladies of

Mining Tech

A

digital-technology revolution is rocking the

world’s mining industry just as it has seen a

symbolic inlux of women into executive roles

long reserved for men.

Two iron ore projects in Australia dem-

onstrate what’s happening as the world’s biggest mining

companies, BHP and Rio Tinto, move closer to committing

more than $3 billion each to what Rio Tinto calls “intelligent

mining” and BHP “the mine of the future.” Both are about to

make radical changes in their most proitable divisions by de-

signing mines without the burden of legacy equipment, some

of which hasn’t changed in decades.

Driverless trains and trucks, already being used in a

number of projects, will be joined by an array of sensors,

FORBES ASIA

DIGITAL DIGS

Australia looks to the onset of cost-saving intelligence down under.

BY TIM TREADGOLD

22 | FORBES ASIA JUNE 2018

Kellie Parker, a managing director at Rio Tinto Iron Ore, is the brains behind Koodaiderie, Rio Tinto’s first intelligent mine. REUTERS/AARON BUNCH