NEW TECH, NEW DEAL: Mining policy options in the face of new technology

The report examines how the 'Fourth Industrial Revolution'—including AI, automation, and IoT—is transforming large-scale mining. While these technologies improve safety and efficiency, they risk displacing low- and semi-skilled workers and reducing local procurement. The authors propose a 'New Deal' comprising updated education and skills training, innovative social impact investing, revised taxation, and the use of technology itself to benefit local communities and artisanal mining.

• The adoption of disruptive technologies in mining is driven by geological challenges such as declining ore grades and deeper deposits, a long-term decline in productivity since the mid-1990s, and the need to improve worker safety and manage environmental impacts.
• Technological shifts are expected to cause a dynamic restructuring of the labour market: while high-skilled roles in engineering and IT will emerge, low- and semi-skilled occupations face a high risk of redundancy due to automation and the Internet of Things (IoT).
• Women in the mining sector face a 'gender digital divide' and historical barriers, but new technologies like remote operation centres may reduce physical barriers and improve work-life balance, potentially increasing female participation.
• New technologies may negatively impact government revenues by reducing payroll taxes from a smaller workforce and increasing the risk of base erosion and profit shifting as value moves to foreign technology providers.
• In artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), basic mechanization (e.g., mechanical crushers and centrifuges) can improve safety and productivity but risks displacing the large number of unskilled workers, particularly women, who traditionally dominate the sector.
• To mitigate job losses, governments should shift toward 'lifelong learning' and STEM-focused education, while mining companies should collaborate with universities to align curricula with the skills needed for the 'mine of the future'.
• Traditional local content policies may become less effective as demand for employee-related goods (e.g., food, uniforms) drops; policies should instead target new procurement categories like 3D printing, sensor maintenance, and renewable energy infrastructure.
• The report suggests moving from traditional Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to 'impact investing', which aims to create self-sustaining, profitable non-mining enterprises in local communities to reduce mining dependence.
• Mining companies can provide 'technology as a solution' by sharing high-speed connectivity, providing real-time environmental data (e.g., tailings dam stability) to communities, and sharing GIS mapping to support local smart agriculture.
• Digitalization offers governments a tool to improve resource governance and tax collection by providing real-time data on the grade and quantity of extracted ores, helping to prevent profit shifting.

APA

Ramdoo, I., Cosbey, A., Geipel, J., & Toledano, P. (2021). NEW TECH, NEW DEAL: Mining policy options in the face of new technology. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-09/new-mining-technology-policy-options.pdf

Chicago

Ramdoo, Isabelle, Aaron Cosbey, Jeff Geipel, and Perrine Toledano. NEW TECH, NEW DEAL: Mining policy options in the face of new technology. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-09/new-mining-technology-policy-options.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ramdoo |first1=Isabelle |last2=Cosbey |first2=Aaron |last3=Geipel |first3=Jeff |last4=Toledano |first4=Perrine |title=NEW TECH, NEW DEAL: Mining policy options in the face of new technology |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=August 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-09/new-mining-technology-policy-options.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ramdoo2021new, author = {Ramdoo, Isabelle and Cosbey, Aaron and Geipel, Jeff and Toledano, Perrine}, title = {{NEW TECH, NEW DEAL: Mining policy options in the face of new technology}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = aug, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-09/new-mining-technology-policy-options.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }