Mining is experiencing a period of structural change. The energy transition, the build-out of AI infrastructure, and governments’ need for resource security are contributing to rapid growth in demand for critical minerals. But, at the same time, producers face supply chain volatility and the operational difficulties of declining ore grades, increasingly inaccessible deposits, longer project timelines, and rising capital intensity. 

As a result, demand is set to outpace supply from existing project pipelines, creating a risk of significant critical mineral deficits within a decade. Those producing the copper, lithium, rare earths and other minerals in this time of global change will therefore need discovery timelines that allow them to survey, assess, and move to production with greater speed and confidence.

Leaders across the industry will have to learn to invest more efficiently and optimise their decision-making — to reduce unnecessary capital commitments. Here, technology will be key. Machine learning, automation, and enhanced sensing capabilities can all help geoscientists and their organisations become much more agile and resilient.

This Financial Times event, in partnership with Fleet Space and Accenture, will be held during LME Week and brings together mining leaders, technology providers, and representatives from frontier industries. The discussion will explore how the new demands of electrification and artificial intelligence are pushing the mining industry to augment traditional exploration processes with operating models powered by frontier technology and what organisations must do to move more quickly and confidently amid uncertainty.