With the introduction of various technologies becoming more prevalent in mining, Council for Geoscience (CGS) CEO Mosa Mabuza has said the Fourth Industrial Revolution and disruptive technologies are finding expression in geosciences and its applications, describing this as “exciting times” for geoscientists.

Speaking in a panel titled ‘The role of technology and skills development in unlocking Africa’s potential' – held on the second day of this year’s London Indaba on June 26 – Mabuza explained that the conventional approach to geomapping had limitations.

He noted that the increasing appetite for minerals, particularly critical minerals, had meant that the role of geosciences had become more eminent, noting that technological applications became more important in the context of sustainability and the just energy transition.

“Technological applications become even more important in the context of sustainability and the just energy transition, which are topics that consume all of us and present both a challenge and a new set of opportunities.

“And so, for us, technological applications are the solutions that we fully embrace, that we as the CGS have gone to our leaders back at home and said, you need to invest in geosciences because you need to have an appreciation of what you have, so that you can manage it better.”

He lamented that the investment in geosciences broadly across Africa remained at “the lowest ebb” compared with developed economies.

“With increasing technology, it gives Africa the greatest opportunity to catch up . . . faster, with more efficiencies that would allow us to do so.”

Meanwhile, GoviEx Uranium CEO Daniel Major said the introduction of technology also required the appropriate set of skills.

He stressed the importance of building skill bases in Africa to foster growth on the continent.

“If you can develop those skills, there is so much more potential in Africa,” he said.

“If you don't create the skill sets in Africa for people who are enthusiastic for mining, and give them the skills to be the next set of entrepreneurs, [it’s] never going to happen. So for me, the biggest asset is people, that's the asset we have to grow,” he added.

Women in Mining UK MD Dr Stacy Hope added that expatriates (expats) could add value to the workforce that could benefit from expert knowledge and skillsets.

“We need to have this boomerang effect where we don't make expats obsolete, we bring them back to actually add value into the workforce, and not to isolate value and keep it for themselves. So where we have workforce, massive workforces, that can benefit from expat knowledge, skillsets, why not bring them into these environments?” she asked.

“It's about bringing everyone into the conversation and sharing those skillsets. So for me, it's not just about the tech, it's not just about skills development, it’s looking at skills holistically and mapping out what the future skills are,” she added.