“Take the worker out of the pit”: How ABB’s Charl Marais sees the future of African mining
AI could make African mining safer and more efficient by connecting machines, systems, and workers and moving people away from danger.
In an interview at the Electra Mining Africa 2026 event, Charl Marais, an expert from ABB South Africa, discussed the future of African mining. Marais, an electrical engineer, believes that the greatest potential of technology in the mining industry lies not in replacing human workers but in keeping them safe while leveraging their expertise.
He envisions a future where workers operate control rooms far from the hazardous conditions of underground mining, with technology acting as a barrier between them and danger. Marais emphasized that the real issue is the lack of connectivity among the various systems within a mine, which could be solved by integrating them into a single intelligent network.
This integration would enable better decision-making, optimisation of processes, and improved safety. The expert stressed that while the mining industry may already have sophisticated systems, the true value lies in connecting these systems to create a cohesive operation. By adopting this approach, African mines could improve efficiency, reduce risks, and ultimately continue to contribute significantly to the continent's economy and job market.
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