Sheila defined local content as a system through which mining companies and their suppliers are encouraged to procure as much as possible at national and regional levels while considering the importance of fair returns to investors.
Andile said one of Anglo American’s major considerations around local procurement relates to sustained relationships with communities. “This is important to us and we have given expression to it through various mentorship programmes, which are aimed at supporting local enterprises and giving them the requisite skills to be independent.”
“These initiatives are a precursor to allocating procurement opportunities to locals and allowing them to participate meaningfully in the way economic resources of mining companies are distributed.”
He said supplier development is another area Anglo American pays attention to. “While there are areas, in hindsight, where we may have done things a little differently, our greatest consideration is to change the profile of our supplier base. We are working collectively across the business units to commit ourselves to delivering on this promise in a tangible way.”
Andile said Anglo American has partnered with Development Bank of Southern Africa to look at ways to increase the institutional capacity of municipalities to be of better value to communities. “This is founded in a deep conviction that mining is a long-term game. Deciding to invest in a community means you are probably looking at a 30- to 50-year time period, which requires a long-term approach.”
In a Deloitte panel discussion entitled ‘Innovation State of Play’, Gordon Smith, Executive Head of technical at our Platinum business, said it is important to remember that innovation is not just technology. “It’s actually the way we work, the integration of processes and people. Innovation is a systemic solution.”
When asked for his thoughts on how innovation may impact the people on the ground, Gordon pointed to the importance of engagement and education. “We need to engage to develop an understanding of the inevitable direction the industry will move in. The very nature of the work changes as we innovate across the industry. There is a particular skills mix that is required for the mine of the future and we need to equip the next generation with the appropriate skills.”
Dr Neville Plint, the Head of Business Improvement, delved further into this topic in his panel discussion on the changing requirements of finding quality candidates for the mining sector. Neville had a positive outlook saying, “this is an exciting time for young people moving into mining. The industry is ripe for people with good ideas. There is room for people from a range of disciplines and skills sets to add their diverse voices to the industry.” Neville’s advice to young people was that they should take a broad and long-term look at the industry when looking for a job.
Gordon Smith also joined several other panellists in discussing ‘connected mining’ and the latest innovations in technology and communications for the mining industry.
He said GPS and WiFi are taken for granted in the business world. “We are continuously connected and know where everybody and everything is most of the time. This is not the case underground. For me, one of the greatest challenges of underground mining operations is how to take the bandwidth we have on the surface underground. This includes the ability to locate people, equipment and move data in real-time.”
“The benefits would be immeasurable, starting off with safety and rolling through to productivity.”