EDITOR ' S LETTER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
DOMINIC ELLIS
EDITORAL DIRECTOR
SCOTT BIRCH
CREATIVE TEAM
OSCAR HATHAWAY SOPHIA FORTE HECTOR PENROSE SAM HUBBARD MIMI GUNN JUSTIN SMITH
PRODUCTION DIRECTORS
GEORGIA ALLEN DANIELA KIANICKOVÁ
PRODUCTION MANAGERS
OWEN MARTIN PHILLINE VICENTE JENNIFER SMITH
PRODUCTION EDITOR
JANET BRICE
VIDEO PRODUCTION MANAGER
KIERAN WAITE
DIGITAL VIDEO PRODUCERS
SAM KEMP EVELYN HUANG MATTHEW EVANS TYLER LIVINGSTONE
DIGITAL MARKETING EXECUTIVE
KAYLEIGH SHOOTER GRETA ANDREJEVAITE
PROJECT DIRECTORS
GLEN WHITE LEWIS VAUGHAN MICHAEL BANYARD STUART IRVING KRIS PALMER
MIKE SADR
MINING GLOBAL MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY
MANAGING DIRECTOR
LEWIS VAUGHAN
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
JORDAN HUBBARD
MEDIA SALES DIRECTOR
MARK CAWSTON
SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR
JASON WESTGATE
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
STACY NORMAN
PRESIDENT & CEO
GLEN WHITE
Is mining immune to COVID-19 ? That ’ s not to diminish the impact that the pandemic has had on companies and staff , but written in the context of some eye-catching 2020 results recently released by Rio Tinto and BHP , and bumper dividend payouts to shareholders .
You would have to draw the conclusion that , compared with many industries , mining looks in good shape . Rising iron ore and copper prices have certainly played their part , fuelling cash flows , and operators have embraced remote monitoring and new technologies , such as wearables , which are enhancing efficiencies and safety . Analysts at Commonwealth Bank of Australia , Fitch Solutions and Capital Economics are now warning prices are likely to fall in the second half of 2021 as policymakers de-prioritise growth in China ’ s commodityintensive sectors . But then again , countries embarking on infrastructure-led post-pandemic recoveries will need plenty of minerals ; as with so much of 2020 , strategizing looks a difficult science .
Whether the economic momentum is maintained or reversed , the demand signs point towards production growth . With soaring demand for lithium with the boom in electric vehicles , and the rebound in Asia , there are grounds for more optimism and growth .
Yet with the industry responsible for 4-7 percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally , pressure from governments , investors , and society to reduce them will not let up . More electrification , decarbonisation and partnerships will be essential . The to-and-fro with the UK ’ s Cumbria coal mine project illustrates the challenges of squaring economic and environmental matters .
Smart executives will continue to prepare , not predict – and focus their attention on digital transformation , automation and analytics , ensuring they are equipped for all eventualities .
DOMINIC ELLIS dominic . ellis @ bizclikmedia . com
© 2021 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Miningglobal . com 3