TECHNOLOGY BASED INNOVATION – THE NEXT DECADE

摘要

The minerals industry focus over much of the past twenty years has been on cost reductionrnand production growth supported, but not driven, by technology improvements. Mergers andrnacquisitions, and the demands of financial markets, have been high priority items whereas researchrnand development and technology based innovation have received less attention and have been cutrnback in many companies.rnTechnology improvements will be critical if the industry is to make progress on the stated aims ofrnimproving energy efficiency, reducing water usage and maximising recovery from deposits. They willrnalso be important for improving capital efficiency and in treating difficult deposits. However the rolerntechnology based innovation will play both in the overall industry, and within individual companies,rnduring the next decade is quite uncertain.rnThere are major challenges in progressing technology based innovation in an industry with limitedrntechnical resources which is dominated by long life high capital operations. Specific opportunitiesrnfor energy and productivity improvements exist but face significant technical and structural barriersrnthat need to be overcome if the industry is to significantly improve performance. Current evidencernsuggests that changes in approach will be needed for these improvements to be realised.rnRecent studies in the United States and Canada have highlighted the wide range of energyrnperformance across the industry and the scope for marked improvement from both incrementalrnimprovements and increased research and development. Comminution, material transportationrnand underground mine ventilation were identified as high priority areas. Opportunities within thesernareas are discussed both in respect of specific technologies and in how they may change performance.rnThe role of open innovation as a source of new technology is also discussed.