Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast Podcast

• Maximising Uptime and Efficiency: The Role of Gearless Mill Drives in Modern Mining Operations

  In this episode, we chat with Wilson Monteiro, Global Business Line Manager for Gearless Mill Drives at ABB who are a leading provider of technologies and solutions for various industries, such as mining in motion, process and robotics. Wilson tells us about ABB, gearless technology, predictive maintenance, automation, digitalisation, and much more around the process and technology space. KEY TAKEAWAYS Wilson has a diverse background in electrical engineering, sales, and management, with extensive experience in automation and artificial intelligence. His career has spanned various roles at ABB and other companies, leading to his current position managing the gearless mill drive business globally. Uptime is critical in the mining industry, not only for profit but also for sustainability. Keeping machinery operational minimises CO2 emissions and maximises the efficiency of existing assets, which is increasingly important as the industry faces pressure to reduce emissions and improve productivity. Gearless mill drives (GMDs) are highlighted as a more energy-efficient solution compared to traditional technologies, offering up to 3.6% energy savings. This efficiency is significant when considering the large number of GMDs in operation globally, contributing to lower carbon footprints in mining operations. The shift towards integrated electrification, automation, and digitalisation is essential for modern mining operations. This integration leads to safer operations, fewer personnel on-site, and improved communication between systems, ultimately enhancing productivity and safety. Predictive maintenance, powered by AI, allows for proactive management of equipment by using real-time data to anticipate issues before they occur. This approach not only extends the life of machinery but also enhances operational efficiency and safety by reducing unexpected breakdowns. BEST MOMENTS "Uptime used to be all about profit. Today, it's about sustainability, too. Even a small hiccup can mean millions in lost production." "GMDs cut out mechanical losses because there is no gearbox or coupling. That alone gives you up to 3.6% energy savings." "It's not cost versus reliability. They go hand in hand. Reliable systems mean fewer unexpected shutdowns, which means fewer people exposed to risk." "Historically, mining has always been an industry slow to adopt change. There's a "Today, I can see some companies moving in a different pattern. Tech Quebrada Blanca is one of them; they have the best approach for operating a mine." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast Web: http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS https://new.abb.com/mining/grinding/gearless-mill-drives https://www.linkedin.com/company/abb/ ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

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  25:26
• The Impact of Geopolitical and Macroeconomic Factors on Gold Prices

  In this episode, we chat with Krishan Gopaul, Senior Research Analyst at the World Gold Council, who are the authority on Gold. They explore the unique gold market and industry research, producing analysis, commentary, and insights on the precious metal to improve the understanding, access, and trust in the yellow metal. Krishan has been with the World Council for over 14 years and is here today to give us an update on their latest Gold Demands Trend report for the first quarter of this year, some of the main drivers of gold at the moment, investor demand, and the activities of the central banks, and more. KEY TAKEAWAYS In the first quarter of 2025, total gold demand increased by 1% to 1,206 tonnes, marking the highest first quarter of gold demand since 2016. Investment demand, particularly from gold ETFs, was a significant driver of this increase. The main drivers for gold demand included macroeconomic factors such as inflation concerns and geopolitical uncertainties. Central banks continued to be a major source of demand, with ongoing purchases contributing to the overall support for gold prices. Retail investment in gold, particularly in bars and coins, saw a 3% year-on-year increase in the first quarter. This growth was driven by heightened uncertainty in the market, prompting both institutional and retail investors to seek gold as a safe haven asset. Central banks have been net buyers of gold since 2010, with significant purchases continuing into 2025. Emerging market central banks, such as those in Poland and China, were noted as key purchasers, maintaining a robust demand for gold. Jewellery demand faced pressure due to rising gold prices, with a 21% year-on-year decline in consumption. However, the value of gold jewellery sales increased by 40% year-on-year, indicating that consumers were spending more despite purchasing less volume, reflecting a shift towards viewing jewellery as an investment. BEST MOMENTS "We saw total gold demand in the first quarter up 1% to 1,206 tonnes, the highest first quarter of gold demand that we have seen since 2016." "In times of heightened uncertainty, gold tends to perform well; people see it as a safe haven asset." "Central banks have been net buyers of gold since 2010, and this trend is likely to persist." "Jewellery consumption was down 21% year on year, unsurprisingly given the rapid increase in price that we've seen." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast Web: http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GDT Q1 2025 Press Release: https://bit.ly/3YwykqH GDT Trends Q1 2025 Report: https://bit.ly/3ERvS7z GUEST SOCIALS https://www.gold.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishan-gopaul-32576114/ https://www.gold.org/goldhub/research/gold-demand-trends/gold-demand-trends-q1-2025 ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.

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  30:44
• Empowering Communities: African Gold's Commitment to ESG Initiatives in Cote d'Ivoire

  In this episode, we chat with Adam Oehlman, CEO of African Gold, an ASX-listed junior explorer who are exploring and developing a multi-million ounce potential at the Didievi Gold project in Côte d’Ivoire. With qualifications in Geology, Mineral and Energy Economics and an MBA, Adam is an experienced mining professional with a strong background in both technical and commercial roles, holding key positions at Northern Star, Hancock Prospecting, and Goldfields. At the helm of African Gold, he gives us an overview of the business, recent activities they have undertaken, and some of the challenges they have faced and overcome. He understands the importance of mentoring, so he will provide some advice to young professionals starting out and the value you should always be looking to give your employees and others you work alongside in the industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS Young professionals should seek guidance from experienced individuals and actively pursue opportunities rather than waiting for them to come. African Gold operates in Cote d'Ivoire, a premier West African mining jurisdiction with strong infrastructure and support from existing mining companies. The company is focused on exploring and developing its Didievi Gold Project, which has a maiden inferred resource of 450,000 ounces. The company is currently executing a 10,000-meter drilling program aimed at expanding its resource base. Adam believes that the current resource is just the beginning, with the potential to exceed one million ounces. Adam highlights the company's commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. African Gold actively supports local communities, including educational programs and training for locals, to foster trust and demonstrate the benefits of mining. With gold prices at record highs, African Gold is well-positioned to capitalise on market conditions. The company plans to release a resource update and continue drilling to unlock additional resource zones, maintaining a steady flow of positive news for investors. BEST MOMENTS "I think you'd be crazy not to have a big focus on community and environment these days. It's a massive focus of us." "Every drill program we do, every hole we put in, there's gold in mind. It's not just drilling to test science; it's drilling to find answers and add shareholder value." "Cote d'Ivoire is just an absolutely lovely place. I've just been so surprised how welcoming the people are, how good the infrastructure is." "I always think people, you can probably live in your head a bit too much. So I think you probably need to think less and do more." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast Web: http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS Website: https://www.african-gold.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/african-gold/ X: https://x.com/AfricanGold_Ltd Email: [email protected] ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.

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  27:19
• Transforming Waste into Value: The Role of Allonnia in Modern Mining Practices

  In this episode we chat to Nicole Richards, CEO of Allonnia, who are a company harnessing nature to solve the biggest environmental challenges for net positive impact. They transform liability into value by leveraging the power of biotechnology and engineered systems to help our customers reach their ESG goals in a waste-free world. Nicole has over 28 years of industry leadership within water treatment, mining, and chemicals industries and gives us the history and story behind Allonnia, how they work with mining companies, how their technology helps mining companies hit their sustainability goals and thoughts on the trade wars that are having an impact on our industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS Allonnia is leveraging synthetic biology to innovate within the mining industry, focusing on transforming waste into value and addressing sustainability challenges through biotechnology. The company is developing solutions for environmental contaminants like 1,4-Dioxane and PFOS, showcasing the potential of biotechnology to remediate harmful substances in various industries, including mining. Allonnia's first product, D-Solve, aims to selectively remove impurities from ore, which can enhance the grade of metals like nickel and improve overall mining efficiency while reducing environmental impact. The mining industry is increasingly open to innovation, with major companies actively seeking partnerships with startups to test and implement new technologies, creating opportunities for faster commercialisation. Focus on Value Unlocking: The immediate economic drivers for biotech in mining are centred around unlocking value from low-grade ores and waste streams, with long-term goals of reducing environmental liabilities and promoting sustainable practices. BEST MOMENTS "Waste is a failure of the imagination. How do you take synthetic biology or really transformational biology and bring that into these processes?" "In the near term, the biggest driver is in the value unlock... around metals recovery from low-grade ores and waste streams." "If you shut down a mine for a minute, the millions of dollars they're going to lose is incredible." "The way we look at it... is that that's been a huge improvement. They're creating innovation challenges." "What is rare is countries being able to domesticate the processing of those rare earths." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast Web: http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS Get in touch at https://allonnia.com/contact-us/ Follow Allonnia on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/allonnia/ ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.

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  27:31
• Building a Sustainable Future: How Switch Metals Plans to Address ESG Challenges in Mining

  In this episode, we chat with Karl Akueson, Founder, CEO, and Director of Switch Metals, who are the largest holder of coltan (tantalum and niobium) and lithium licences in Côte d’Ivoire with over 3,000 km2 of licences with their flagship project being the Issia coltan project. Karl is a natural resources entrepreneur and former investment banker with BMO Capital Markets in London, who co-founded Awale Resources and has now established Switch Metals. In this episode, he talks through his entrepreneur journey, the background to Switch Metals and their projects, Côte d’Ivoire as a mining jurisdiction, and the tantalum market, plus more. KEY TAKEAWAYS Switch Metals is primarily focused on tantalum, a metal used in various electronic devices due to its unique properties, such as heat resistance and conductivity. This focus differentiates the company from other mining ventures that typically concentrate on more common commodities like lithium. Cote d'Ivoire is highlighted as an attractive mining jurisdiction due to its infrastructure, stability, and under-explored potential. The country has a growing mining sector, particularly in gold, which provides a supportive environment for new ventures like Switch Metals. The company aims to generate early cash flow through shallow coltan placer mining at the Issia Coltan Project. This approach is designed to provide a strong cash flow foundation, allowing for sustainable operations and further exploration without relying heavily on equity financing. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) considerations are integral to Switch Metals' operations. The company emphasises ethical sourcing and community engagement, ensuring that local communities are informed and involved in the mining process, which helps mitigate the risks associated with artisanal mining. The immediate focus for Switch Metals is on resource definition through systematic pitting and bulk sampling to estimate the grade of tantalum. Following this, the company plans to conduct metallurgical studies and a scoping study to establish economic parameters, paving the way for future production. BEST MOMENTS "Tantalum is a metal that we use daily... It's used in capacitors, in the electronics industry particularly, but also in the cutting industry, in the alloy industry in general." "Cote d'Ivoire had that potential, but nobody really knows about it... I decided to build a company around this potential in the past few years." "We have this advantage of having both some material at surface... It's generally called placer deposits... It's something you can scratch from at the surface very shallow, it's free dig." "ESG is inherent to what we do... We have no choice but to meet all these ESG criteria because our end clients want us to demonstrate that we have traceability." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast Web: http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-akueson-b3456617/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/switch-metals/ https://switchmetals.com/ ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.

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  35:42

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