Africa’s mining sector is at a pivotal moment, with safety, sustainability and smarter operations firmly in the spotlight. Against this backdrop, the Mining Indaba in Cape Town brought industry leaders together to explore how the sector can unlock long-term value. Sabine Dall’Omo, CEO of Siemens sub-Saharan Africa, joined the conversation, highlighting how electrification, automation and digitalisation can support people on the ground and enable better, data-driven decision making across mining operations.
Sabine Dall’Omo, CEO of Siemens Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Mining is central to Africa’s economic strength and indispensable to the global energy transition,” says Dall’Omo. “As demand for critical minerals accelerates, the future of mining will depend on how effectively the industry can electrify, digitalise, automate, and develop the skills needed for a safer, more efficient and more sustainable future. Siemens is Africa’s partner in this journey, combining advanced technology with human capability to move mining from possibility to reality. This is an opportune time for sector experts to discuss how the industry can move from pilot projects to real outcomes, including safer operations, smarter maintenance and reduced energy intensity by combining trusted automation with industrial AI and reliable, contextualised data.”
Siemens is helping African mines reduce exposure to hazardous work, automate complex tasks, and improve decision making through advanced process control, condition monitoring, digital twins and AI-enabled assistance. “These technologies do not replace people, they empower them,” says Dall’Omo.
By embedding expert knowledge into intelligent workflows and AI copilots, Siemens preserves institutional expertise, supports workforce transition, and equips the next generation with modern, future-ready skills, ensuring a just and inclusive evolution of the mining workforce.
“Our digitalisation approach connects data across the mining value chain, from geology and planning through processing and energy systems, enabling real time, actionable insights and supporting more autonomous operations,” Dall’Omo says. “Digital twins allow mines to simulate scenarios, optimise production and anticipate failures before they occur, improving throughput, resilience and sustainability outcomes. Our approach to AI is grounded in engineering discipline, transparency and industrial grade cybersecurity ensuring it delivers measurable operational value rather than adding to the hype.”
Sustainability remains central to Siemens’ role in mining. As African mining confronts global competition, skills shortages, productivity pressures and climate commitments, Siemens is ready to partner with mining companies, governments and communities. “Siemens stands for partnership, interoperability and implementation discipline, enabling mines to decarbonise, digitalise, and de-risk operations while strengthening social legitimacy and long-term value creation,” Dall’Omo concludes. “Together, we can shape a mining sector that is safer, smarter and more sustainable − today and for the next generation.”
Luna Rossa partners with Siemens for 38th America’s Cup Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens details how Luna Rossa is using digital engineering and simulation tools, from CAD to structural optimisation, to design a faster yacht for the 38th America’s Cup.
Read more...Advancing high-performance motorsport design Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens explains how its simulation software is helping motorsport engineering group ORECA speed up vehicle design and optimise composite structures for its Le Mans hypercar programme.
Read more...The data-driven path to sustainable manufacturing ifm - South Africa
Editor's Choice Sensors & Transducers
Smart automation is closing the gap between operational efficiency and environmental responsibility, and the data to do it is already inside the plant. With ifm’s sensing and digitalisation technologies, manufacturers can turn machine intelligence into measurable sustainability gains.
Read more...The hydrogen economy is moving from concept to industrial reality VEGA Controls SA
Editor's Choice Pressure Measurement & Control
Scaling the hydrogen economy requires safe, efficient and tightly controlled processes across generation, storage, distribution and end use, underpinned by accurate instrumentation for pressure, temperature, level and flow measurement.
Read more...Dynamic control of industrial solar plants and energy storage systems Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice IT in Manufacturing
Spanish group, Power Electronics uses Beckhoff embedded PCs and TwinCAT software to achieve switching times of 110 ms across solar and battery storage systems, enabling the delivery of grid support services that command higher energy prices.
Read more...South Africa’s battery manufacturing potential
Editor's Choice Electrical Power & Protection
A feasibility study commissioned by the Localisation Support Fund concludes that South Africa has the technical and commercial foundations to develop a competitive lithium iron phosphate battery manufacturing sector, anchored by growing regional demand and favourable industrial conditions.
Read more...Expanding visibility in mining operations Emerson Automation Solutions
Editor's Choice Sensors & Transducers
Advances in wireless communications, condition monitoring and sensing technologies are helping mining operators extend measurement into previously under-monitored areas, improving equipment reliability, process performance and water stewardship.
Read more...PC-based control in surgery Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Researchers at the University of Basel are using Beckhoff PC-based control technology to develop a miniature laser robot for minimally invasive bone surgery.
Read more...The gender gap in South Africa’s engineering sector
Editor's Choice News
With women making up just 16% of registered engineering professionals in South Africa, AvenirHoldings CEO, Tshidi Mndzebele, is calling on women engineers and graduates to pursue formal professional registration as a key step to unlocking career growth and industry leadership.
Read more...Siemens and HighByte partner to scale industrial AI Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Siemens is expanding its Industrial Edge ecosystem through a partnership with HighByte, enabling customers to connect, contextualise and transform data from operational technology and information technology sources to build AI models and applications at scale.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version