Charl Marais, Local Division Manager for ABB South Africa’s Process Automation Process Industries division, unveiled a forward-looking vision for African mining technology at Electra Mining Africa 2026. His core concept, “Take the worker out of the pit,” proposes leveraging integrated digital systems, control mechanisms, and artificial intelligence to operate hazardous underground environments remotely.
This approach aims to dramatically enhance safety and operational efficiency across the continent’s vital mining sector.
Engineering African mining technology for safer operations
The vision, presented during the prominent Electra Mining Africa 2026 event held from September 7-11, 2026, at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, South Africa, marks a significant push towards advanced industrial automation. ABB’s participation underscored a commitment to connecting isolated machinery, control systems, and AI platforms into a single intelligent network.
Charl Marais’s perspective on this technological shift at ABB is rooted in understanding how industrial equipment functions and how automation can unlock its inherent potential. His journey, from encountering control systems to integrating digital technologies and artificial intelligence, mirrors the evolution of industrial processes themselves.
Marais sees technology as a crucial tool for safeguarding human lives. He believes humanity has a responsibility to remove workers from dangerous environments where their lives are threatened, a principle that drives the push for remote operations.
Marais envisions a future where workers operate from safer, often remote, locations instead of physically standing next to dangerous equipment or working underground. This philosophy positions technology as a barrier between the worker and the hazard, fundamentally changing their relationship with machinery.
While the anxiety about machines replacing jobs is not new to mining, Marais sees an opportunity to improve both safety and productivity through mining autonomy.
Connecting Disconnected Systems for Optimal Performance
A key challenge Marais identifies is the common fragmentation within existing mine operations. Many mines already possess sophisticated individual systems, such as programmable logic controllers or other control platforms. However, these systems often operate in isolation from each other.
This lack of interconnectedness means mines frequently lack a unified view of their entire operation. Marais contends that the real value emerges when these disparate systems are integrated into a cohesive whole. Implementing a digital control system (DCS) that oversees the entire value chain can unlock significant automation capabilities.
He argues that a mine must function more like a single, connected entity than a collection of separate machines. A bottleneck in one area, for example, impacts more than just that single component; a connected system can reveal its ripple effects on energy consumption, production rates, and overall costs across the wider operation. This integrated visibility also provides artificial intelligence with richer data.
Instead of offering isolated insights, AI can then help operators identify complex patterns, optimise processes, and make more informed decisions based on comprehensive information from across the entire mine. This digital systems integration, rather than solely advanced robotics, is where Marais believes the next significant technological leap will occur.
Africa’s Unique Imperative for Advanced Mining Technology
For Marais, Africa’s often challenging operating environment actually strengthens the argument for embracing advanced industrial automation and digital solutions. Despite issues like unreliable electricity, ageing infrastructure, and skills shortages, these technologies become even more critical on the continent.
The global energy transition has placed increased demand on Africa’s mineral wealth, particularly for critical elements like copper and cobalt. Countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia are central to this supply chain. Extracting these resources safely, efficiently, and sustainably presents a growing challenge, making technological solutions essential.
ABB showcased its approach under the theme “Powering Leaner. Driving Cleaner. Enabling the Future of Mining” at Electra Mining Africa. Demonstrations included electrification, control, and digitalisation technologies such as substations, switchgear, and SCADA systems. These software platforms allow remote monitoring and control of industrial equipment.
The goal is to enable mining companies to boost production, reduce energy consumption, enhance reliability, and minimise environmental impact. But for African companies, the conversation extends beyond acquiring new equipment. It is about extracting greater value from their existing infrastructure, machinery, and human expertise.
ABB already has a substantial installed base across sub-Saharan Africa. This existing presence, supported by channel partners, is pivotal for maintaining and supporting equipment in diverse markets. The vision involves making current assets work harder and smarter through interconnectedness, rather than a wholesale replacement, driving the evolution of industrial operations.
The Human Element in Automated Mines
Despite the push for automation, Marais insists the human element remains central to the future of African mining technology. His vision features remote operation centres where skilled workers monitor and control processes without being underground or near dangerous machinery. Operators still make critical decisions, but with far greater information at their disposal.
This shift represents a mine not devoid of people, but one where individuals have enhanced visibility and control over operations. Technology, in this context, facilitates meeting the responsibility to supply critical minerals with fewer injuries, improved productivity, and more efficient use of energy and resources.
The social question of job displacement with increased automation persists. Marais acknowledges that technology will inevitably change some roles, potentially causing others to disappear, while new technical positions emerge. However, he argues the discussion should focus on the types of jobs people can perform when machines handle the most dangerous and repetitive tasks.
This nuanced perspective suggests a more practical future for Africa. The real transformation in African mining technology may not involve advanced robots, but rather skilled workers in control rooms, potentially hundreds of kilometres away. They would oversee connected operations via digital interfaces, using years of experience to make real-time decisions, keeping production flowing and colleagues safe.
Evolution of Industrial Technology and its African Impact
Marais’s career trajectory serves as a compelling parallel to the broader evolution of industrial technology. From earlier engagements with control systems, he now operates at the intersection of digitalisation and artificial intelligence. Each new layer of technology has not rendered the previous one obsolete, but rather enhanced its utility and potential.
This progressive layering offers a realistic framework for considering AI’s role in African mining. The technology will not arrive as a sudden, transformative force, but rather as an enhancement to decades of existing engineering, industrial equipment, control systems, and human expertise. The competitive edge will go to companies capable of seamlessly connecting these diverse layers.
The transformation described by Marais involves machines venturing deeper into the earth, while people move further from the inherent dangers of the pit. This strategic relocation of human capital allows for greater oversight and more informed decision-making from safer vantage points. It ensures that the continent’s critical mineral extraction continues to meet global demands with increased efficiency and worker protection.
Looking Ahead: A Connected Future for African Mining
The ultimate vision presented by Charl Marais is not one of silent, human-empty mines, but rather a complex, interconnected ecosystem. Here, operators in sophisticated control rooms watch operations unfold on screens, making real-time decisions powered by comprehensive data. The machines then execute the dangerous and arduous tasks below ground.
This integration of electrification, automation, and digitalisation offers a pathway for African mining to meet increasing global demand while simultaneously addressing critical challenges. It aims to boost productivity, significantly lower energy consumption, improve operational reliability, and reduce the environmental footprint of mining activities. This long-term strategy is crucial for building a sustainable industrial future in Africa.
ABB’s display at Electra Mining Africa 2026, showcasing products like the Compact Secondary Substation, LeanGear Panel, SCADA Panel, and SafePlus Air, underlined these commitments. The company’s focus on converting operational challenges into competitive advantages through smarter, more resilient mining operations highlights a pragmatic and forward-thinking approach for the continent.
