Nueva tecnología, nuevo negocio: Opciones de políticas mineras frente a las nuevas tecnologías | Resumen ejecutivo

This executive summary examines the impact of disruptive technologies on large-scale mining and proposes policy options to mitigate negative social and fiscal effects while leveraging technology for local economic diversification.

• Large-scale mining is adopting a suite of disruptive technologies—including digital enablers (sensors, drones), big data tools (AI, machine learning), integrators (5G, blockchain), and process improvements (automated machinery, electric vehicles)—driven by geological complexity, declining ore grades, and the need for improved safety and environmental management.
• Technological innovation in mining is expected to cause a dynamic restructuring of employment: while high-paying roles in engineering and IT will be created, there is a high risk of job losses for semi-skilled and low-skilled workers. This creates a potential conflict if new roles are not located in affected communities or if locals lack the necessary skills.
• New technologies may negatively impact government revenues by reducing payroll taxes as the workforce shrinks and increasing the risk of base erosion and profit shifting as value moves toward foreign technology providers.
• Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) faces a dual impact: while basic technologies can improve safety and efficiency, the increased efficiency of large-scale mines may put price pressure on ASM, and automation within ASM could displace the large numbers of low-skilled workers, including women and youth.
• To address the skills gap, governments should implement collaborative education strategies involving universities and industry, increase spending on STEM education (especially for women), and provide incentives for companies to conduct mandatory training.
• Governments can promote economic diversification by encouraging mining companies to make 'impact investments' in non-mining sectors like agriculture or light industry, rather than relying solely on corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending.
• Technology can be used as a solution to mitigate disruptive impacts through the development of local tech SMEs, sharing high-speed connectivity and real-time environmental data (such as tailings dam stability) with communities, and using digital mine data to improve government tax oversight and combat corruption.
• While increasing taxes on efficiency gains is a possible strategy to compensate affected workers, the document warns that this should not be the sole policy, as efficiency does not always guarantee sustained higher profitability.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). Nueva tecnología, nuevo negocio: Opciones de políticas mineras frente a las nuevas tecnologías | Resumen ejecutivo. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-09/new-mining-technology-policy-options-summary-es.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Nueva tecnología, nuevo negocio: Opciones de políticas mineras frente a las nuevas tecnologías | Resumen ejecutivo. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-09/new-mining-technology-policy-options-summary-es.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Nueva tecnología, nuevo negocio: Opciones de políticas mineras frente a las nuevas tecnologías | Resumen ejecutivo |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-09/new-mining-technology-policy-options-summary-es.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndnueva, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Nueva tecnología, nuevo negocio: Opciones de políticas mineras frente a las nuevas tecnologías | Resumen ejecutivo}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-09/new-mining-technology-policy-options-summary-es.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }