Sustainable mining is a contested concept, a paradox to some, a polarising topic to many, and a melting point for political debate in the face of climate change diplomacy with respect to emissions quotas and nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Having understood the argument for sustainable mining, any good student may ask, “Should Kenya proceed and mine the huge coal deposit in Kitui?” With the emissions quota for Kenya and similar countries in focus, a compelling political argument must be advanced in climate diplomacy so that greening interventions can lead to win-win outcomes without injustice to the transition process in the regions that have all along contributed the least to the global carbon footprint. The Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Expo 2024 brought together hundreds of international participants drawn from government, the mining industry, academia, and students from higher education institutions. Read on for insights into the innovative approaches and bold strategies shared during this pivotal event by speakers from Taita Taveta University (TTU).
TTU hosts the Centre of Excellence for Mining, Environmental Engineering and Resource Management (CEMEREM), the 8th Centre of African Excellence under the DAAD-sponsored centres of excellence in Africa and the first one with an engineering orientation.
Introduction
The mining sector sits at a crossroads of innovation and sustainability, as it is both a bastion of modern industry and a driver of environmental challenges. Presented at the Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Expo 2024, held 26-27 November 2024 in Nairobi, my talk with Dickson Wachira on Green Technologies and Sustainable Innovations for a Low-Carbon Mining Future highlighted the urgent need for transformative solutions in this crucial sector.
During the Gala Dinner organised on the final day, Taita Taveta University (TTU), which we represented as our home institution by making our presentation between 8 pm and 9 pm, was recognised with a lifetime achievement award for training a critical mass of mining engineers over the years. Alumni of TTU graced the two days of the event.
In the complex and convoluted supply chain of minerals, blockchain technology promises to transform origin and destination mapping or provenance branding. AI, Big Data, Digital Twins, Extended Reality (e.g., Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality) or Immersive Technologies – all these progressive and cutting-edge solutions are already transforming some mining sector outcomes and have huge prospects for becoming mainstream solutions.
Mining’s Role in a Sustainable Future
Mining is indispensable for economic growth and technological progress. It has been confirmed that every dollar generated from mining stimulates an additional three dollars across the economy, creating five indirect jobs for every direct mining role. However, the sector also faces pressing questions about its environmental footprint, given its 4–7% contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Can mining be sustainable yet minerals are non-renewable natural resources? This was the big question during the sustainability debate, but one whose answer was adeptly articulated by moving away from the utopian Strong Sustainability concept of maintaining the stock of natural capital. To reconcile its economic significance with environmental stewardship, mining must embrace a “Weak Sustainability” model—leveraging mineral wealth to foster long-term investments in renewable resources and socio-economic development activities that offer long-term livelihood support, such as agriculture and human capital development.
The Decarbonisation Challenge
As the world seeks to limit warming to 1.5–2°C, the mining industry must prioritise decarbonisation strategies, including:
- Process Optimisation: Reducing energy consumption and emissions throughout the mining lifecycle.
- Renewable Energy Adoption: Shifting to solar, wind, and hydropower for operations.
- Carbon Capture Technologies: Although nascent, carbon capture offers the potential for mitigating emissions in hard-to-green processes such as steel and cement production.
Artificial Intelligence: A Game Changer
AI stands at the frontier of mining innovation, enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability at every stage:
- Exploration: AI-powered geological mapping and remote sensing accelerate mineral discovery.
- Production: Machine learning models optimise ore processing and predictive maintenance, reducing downtime.
- Post-Mining: AI supports long-term monitoring and rehabilitation, ensuring environmental compliance.
Case studies from Taita Taveta County were shared to demonstrate how AI-enabled land-use analyses and digital twins generated from LiDAR technology can help optimise resource management and minimise environmental degradation.
The Digital Mine Concept
Many sectors still remain hard to decarbonise, for example, steel and cement production, road freight, aviation, coal mining, and shipping. Striking a balance between going for readily available and conventional products and pursuing the long sustainability pathways remains a critical challenge for all policy and decision makers.
The digital mine represents the integration of advanced processes and resources such as geospatial data, AI, and automation. By leveraging these tools, mining companies can improve safety, productivity, and environmental performance. For example, hydrogen-based steelmaking and electric arc furnaces are revolutionising the steel industry, while precision tools such as SLAM LiDAR provide unparalleled accuracy in quantitative assessments of mining-related activities and governance.
Avoiding the Greenwashing Trap
While the green revolution offers immense promise, it comes with the risk of greenwashing. Genuine sustainability demands measurable actions, such as:
- Transparency in GHG reporting
- Adoption of circular economy principles, including recycling and reuse of materials
- Accountability for environmental and social governance (ESG) metrics
Lessons and Implications
- Reskilling the Workforce: The transition to digital and green mining requires intensive upskilling, particularly in AI and machine learning.
- Policy Development: Governments must foster policies that align with decarbonisation goals while safeguarding against exploitation and inefficiency.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: From investors to local communities, inclusive engagement is essential to balancing economic, social, and environmental priorities.
Conclusion and Way Forward
Mining is too important a sector to be left to operate in a traditional, haphazard, and inefficient manner; it must evolve into a beacon of sustainability. By embracing green technologies and innovative practices, the mining sector can chart a low-carbon future that supports both humanity’s technological ambitions and the health of our planet. However, decarbonisation and the progress towards greening will have to be pragmatic, context-specific with human rights considerations, labour rights included, and mostly incremental, because of the persistence of legacy tools and approaches against a huge deficit in the number of viable and affordable green solutions.
Having understood the argument for sustainable mining, any good student may ask, “Should Kenya proceed and mine the huge coal deposit in Kitui?” With the emissions quota for Kenya and similar countries in focus, a compelling political argument must be advanced in climate diplomacy so that greening interventions can lead to win-win outcomes without injustice to the transition process in the regions that have all along contributed the least to the global carbon footprint.
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