Charl Marais, Local Division Manager for ABB South Africa’s Process Automation Process Industries division, outlined his vision for the future of African mining technology at Electra Mining Africa 2026. His core concept, “Take the worker out of the pit,” proposes using integrated digital systems, control mechanisms, and artificial intelligence to enable the remote operation of hazardous underground environments.
This approach aims to improve safety and operational efficiency across the continent’s mining sector.
Engineering African mining technology for safer operations
The vision, presented at Electra Mining Africa 2026, held from September 7-11, 2026, at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, South Africa, marks a push towards advanced industrial automation. ABB’s participation highlighted its focus on connecting isolated machinery, control systems, and AI platforms into a single network.
Charl Marais’s perspective on this technological shift is rooted in his understanding of how industrial equipment functions and how automation can improve its performance. His career, from working with control systems to integrating digital technologies and artificial intelligence, reflects the broader evolution of industrial processes.
Marais sees technology as a crucial tool for safeguarding human lives. He believes there is a responsibility to remove workers from dangerous environments where their lives are at risk, a principle that supports the move towards 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 approach positions technology as a barrier between workers and hazards, changing how they interact 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 identified by Marais is the fragmentation of existing mine operations. Many mines already have sophisticated individual systems, such as programmable logic controllers and 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 argues that greater value can be achieved when these disparate systems are integrated into a cohesive whole. Implementing a digital control system (DCS) to oversee the entire value chain can expand 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 systems with access to more comprehensive 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. Marais believes this integration of digital systems, rather than advanced robotics alone, will drive the next major stage of technological development.
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 challenges such as unreliable electricity, ageing infrastructure, and skills shortages, these technologies may become increasingly important on the continent.
The global energy transition has increased demand for Africa’s mineral resources, particularly critical minerals such as copper and cobalt. Countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia play important roles in this supply chain. Extracting these resources safely, efficiently, and sustainably presents a growing challenge, making technological solutions essential.
ABB showcased its technologies 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 systems enable the remote monitoring and control of industrial equipment.
The technologies are intended to help mining companies increase production, reduce energy consumption, improve 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 replacing existing assets wholesale, 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 does not represent a mine devoid of people, but one in which workers have greater visibility and control over operations. In this context, technology could help the industry meet demand for critical minerals while reducing the risk of injuries and improving productivity and resource efficiency.
Concerns about job displacement as automation increases persist. Marais acknowledges that technology will change some roles, potentially displacing some positions while creating new technical roles. 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 perspective suggests a different approach to the future of African mining. 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 their experience to make real-time decisions and help maintain production while improving worker safety.
Evolution of Industrial Technology and Its African Impact
Marais’s career reflects 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 necessarily replaced the previous one but has instead expanded 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. Companies capable of connecting these different layers may gain a competitive advantage.
The transformation described by Marais involves machines operating deeper underground while workers move further away from the hazards of the pit. This relocation of workers to remote operating environments could provide 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 vision presented by Charl Marais is not one of mines without people, but of a complex, interconnected operating environment. Here, operators in sophisticated control rooms watch operations unfold on screens, making real-time decisions based on comprehensive data. Machines would then perform dangerous and physically demanding tasks underground.
This integration of electrification, automation, and digitalisation could help African mining respond to increasing global demand while addressing operational challenges. It aims to boost productivity, lower energy consumption, improve operational reliability, and reduce the environmental footprint of mining activities. This long-term approach is intended to support more sustainable industrial operations 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 addressing operational challenges through more connected and resilient mining operations reflects its approach to the future of the sector.
