Mining is at a crossroads. As the shift to cleaner forms of energy accelerates, the industry has a key part to play in providing the metals and minerals that will drive the mass adoption of electric vehicles and the growth of renewable power. But as increasingly demanding consumers and investors weigh social, environmental and governance metrics, the industry will have to tell its story better.
This involves changing perceptions on vital issues such as climate change and safety and articulating clearly the role mining plays in supporting and sustaining economic growth. The sector needs to embrace technology, reskill its workforce and persuade policy makers that the physical activities of mining can be done differently and deal with the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. It will not be easy but a return to the practices of the past is not an option.