IMDEX boss calls on support for resources technology disruptors
Scaling up new technology to improve resource sector efficiency needs more industry and government support, according to a mining services veteran.
in conversation Business News’ Future of Resources Robotics and technology are key to reversing the country’s declining productivity, IMDEX chief executive Paul House said at the event held in Crown Perth on Wednesday.
Mr House said WA had a strong tech start-up scene but scaling up these companies remained a challenge.
“How can you go into a place like Westgold or BHP and say I want to disrupt your billion-dollar industry,” he said.
“If there was a role between industry bodies, industry, government and technology manufacturers, how would we accelerate the scale-up phase of trialling new technology to try to fundamentally solve this efficiency problem?
“We’ve had a decline in productivity as a country throughout this entire century, and we’re seeing other countries taking very bold steps in this area.”
Efficiency and labor were the key themes at Wednesday’s panel discussion, which featured four industry leaders including Mr House, Westgold Resources managing director Wayne Bramwell, BHP Mining Area C managing director Lauren Burraston and Hicks Civil & Mining founder Peter Hicks.
In his address to the nation this evening, Mr Bramwell said he was hopeful Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would remove barriers to resource efficiency.
“We are fascinated by anything that can lower our cost base and make our industry more competitive,” he said.
Ms Burraston focused on on-site battery-electric machinery trials at BHP’s Pilbara operations and argued the uptake of technology and AI could encourage a wider field of participants into the mining industry.
He said miners are competing with companies like Google and Apple for the attention of the next generation of workers.
“I love nothing more than seeing young people inspired by mining.
“We’re excited to embrace more technology, we’re excited to be at the forefront of trialling and testing some of this equipment in the Pilbara.
“It’s not as simple as just putting a battery electric truck on a mine site… there are many ecosystem factors and infrastructure providers to consider.”
Mr House said it was the first time in his three-decade career that he noticed people outside the resources industry talking about the importance of resources.
He said automation, robotics and policies such as parental leave will help bring in more workers.
Grow
During the panel discussion, Mr Hicks revealed this was the first time Hicks Civil & Mining was considering expansion outside the Pilbara.
The company is headquartered in Port Hedland and has an office for external staff in Perth.
Mr Hicks said he was now considering moving to the Goldfields and Queensland to expand his business.
The move will come as Aboriginal businesses struggle to win contracts outside their traditional country.
“We’re at a point in the business world where we’ve probably reached the capacity to operate in the north,” he said.
“More opportunities are going to traditional owner groups, and when we look at the tier 1 groups that are offering those opportunities, I can’t engage with those guys unless they work in an area with my traditional owner group.
“This is pretty important for growing my business, so I’m starting to think about moving to the Goldfields or Queensland.”
Mr Hicks said black plating remained a problem in the Pilbara and called out non-Indigenous businesses that took advantage of Indigenous partners without providing adequate returns to that partner.
