Getting the mining industry ready for the energy transition - Andrew Job, Plotlogic

We sat down with Plotlogic’s Andrew Job to talk about mining industry challenges, strategic reserves of key green metals, mixing advanced sensors with AI to boost mining productivity, and extending the life of existing mines.

Plotlogic has taken the mining industry by storm over the last 12 months - signing four of the world’s top five mining companies, completing a $25 million capital raise backed by BHP (its first investment in a mining tech company) and well-known California-based venture capital firm Innovation Endeavors.

Plotlogic was started by Andrew Job, a 20-year mining industry veteran, while he was doing his Ph.D. at the University of Queensland. Its technology uses a combination of advanced imaging and artificial intelligence to characterize ore in real time. It is much more accurate than traditional mining methods and enables mines to operate far more efficiently, with less wastage and environmental impact.

The tech can extend the life of existing mines and is also helping revive industries like the tungsten industry which has lain dormant in Australia for more than three decades because of the exorbitant costs involved as well as environmental legacy issues. Plotlogic has rolled out its tech with Australia’s only operating primary tungsten producer EQ Resources where it is starting to scan the mountains of tailings enabling recovery of tungsten and the clean-up of the previously moth-balled site.

The company is constantly innovating and recently achieved a significant breakthrough with iron ore producer SIMEC - managing to reduce assay turnaround time from seven days to less than 24 hours. With the timely return of drilling results a major problem particularly for junior explorers, this is an industry game changer.

0:00 - Four big challenges of the mining industry: fossil fuels, green metals, environment, productivity

12:57 - Fighting mining productivity decline with better tools, sensors, and AI

20:00 - Case studies. 20% uplift in mining performance and increased turnaround time

33:53 - AI technologies & sensors deployed by the company

41:00 - Collecting data for initial training

49:00 - Andrew’s journey: Mining, Ph.D., starting a company

53:00 - Principles over paradigms, and the two other pillars of the Plotlogic’s culture

1:00:00 - The future of the mining industry

Links:

Web: https://www.plotlogic.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/plotlogic/

Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewtjob/

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