By Swelihle Mabaso

MMP LoCM and MMS Programme Manager, Martin Pretorius, highlighted the importance of collaboration and industry-wide standards in accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in mining at the Mining Tech Africa 2026, held in Cape Town on 30 June 2026.

Pretorius presented a talk on AI-optimised Mine Planning, where he shared insights into the practical challenges facing South Africa as mining companies seek to move emerging technologies from small-scale pilot projects to broader operational deployment.

He highlighted the challenges associated with connectivity, interoperability, workforce integration and existing infrastructure, noting that the absence of industry-wide standards can make it difficult for mines to test, integrate and deploy technologies from different vendors.

He emphasised that greater collaboration across the mining industry, supported by common standards, is needed to overcome these barriers and create an environment in which technologies can be adopted and scaled more effectively.

“Platforms like Mining Tech Africa are essential to establish collaboration and networking to identify industry needs, share and understand technology development and create awareness of the constraints in the assessment and implementation of these technologies,” said Pretorius.

Mining Tech Africa brought together mine operators, engineering leaders, technology teams and solution providers to explore the application of artificial intelligence (AI), automation, connectivity and digital systems across the African mining industry.

For MMP, the event provided an opportunity to contribute to industry discussions on the practical realities of technology adoption and the conditions required to move innovations from research and pilot environments into mining operations.

Discussions also focused on lessons from real-world technology deployments, with mine operators and industry leaders sharing experiences on what is working, challenges encountered during implementation and what is required to successfully deploy technologies at an operational scale.

MMP’s participation reinforces its role in facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange across the mining innovation ecosystem, helping to bridge the gap between technology development and its successful application in the industry.