Issue 47
Mining Portfolio
Outlook Publishing showcases four global mining businesses which provide essential materials across the world and opportunities to their communities.
Thai Optical Group (TOG) : Clear Vision, Caring Culture
Thai Optical Group combines a welcoming corporate culture with cutting-edge technology and a drive towards digitisation.
Siam City Cement Public Company Limited (SCCC)
A Steward of the CommunityHaving last year marked 50 years in operation, Siam City Cement Public Company Limited (SCCC or INSEE) continues to show strength and compassion for its local communities despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Joshua Mann “One never knows how bad a crisis is going to get, so the first concern for us was to set up our crisis management and emergency response teams. The first priority was to protect the health of our staff and customers, and while we’re just about out of what we call crisis mode, we’re still keeping our eyes firmly fixed on the situation and are now responding to the economic fallout.” From celebrating a half century in existence in 2019 to running into a global pandemic, it has been an extraordinary year in the life of Siam City Cement Public Company Limited (SCCC) and its Group CEO, Aidan Lynam. Speaking from a quarantined hotel room in Bangkok following a visit to his native Ireland, he sets a very positive tone despite the clear and obvious challenges that COVID-19 has brought about through the course of 2020, this having just recently celebrated the company’s 50th birthday. Indeed, for SCCC, the message is a resolute one – that society can and must continue to operate as best it can to navigate this crisis. And although this year’s events appear somewhat unprecedented given the global reach of the pandemic, Siam City Cement is able to benefit from a degree of hindsight gained throughout its past. “Out here in…
Meinhardt EPCM
Looking for the Next HorizonMeinhardt EPCM’s Vinesh Natali talks about the building industry’s past, present, and future, the company always looking ahead to the next trend in construction Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Ryan Gray The engineering industry is one that paves the way for the progressive future of countries and cities. Throughout time, civilisations have pioneered new and innovative ways of using all manner of materials to construct buildings spanning a tremendous array of shapes and sizes, the constructs seen today unfathomable to architects and engineers of yesteryear. Such developments have enabled cities to house more people and, as populations continue to soar, it is imperative now more than ever to maximise the use of space. In Asia-Pacific, Meinhardt EPCM stands as a prominent player in the engineering and construction sphere. Established by founder Bill Meinhardt in Australia in 1955, the firm has grown into a regional player in Asia Pacific, its present-day headquarters now situated in Singapore. From here and its other regional offices, the company provides professional civil and structural engineering, infrastructure planning, sustainability planning, and a multitude of other services to international clientele. The results for clients’ investments are award-winning buildings, urban development, transportation and infrastructure projects, advanced manufacturing, and smart technologies, among other outcomes. Vinesh Natali has been with the company for over five years and sits as the firm’s Global Head for the EPCM business, having witnessed not only the growth of Meinhardt EPCM to its current 350 employees, but also the development of the entire EPCM service sector. “The fundamentals haven’t changed, the way of thinking has,”…
Meinhardt Bonacci
Engineering AustraliaWe spoke to John Williams, CEO of Meinhardt-Bonacci, about the Australian construction and engineering industry, and how the company strives to provide innovative, green, and quality services to clients across the globe Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Eddie Clinton The Australian construction and engineering industries are in a state of continual evolution – production efficiency, sustainability practices, and new design challenges and techniques to successfully implement innovation in the sector are the driving forces of positive and progressive change. However, this has not come without its challenges. For Meinhardt-Bonacci, the specialist engineering firm under the banner of the internationally spanning Meinhardt Group, an example of these challenges is shown through the slowed implementation of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) due to obstacles in the past year. DfMA is aimed to develop innovative, sustainable, and efficient industry techniques to reduce on-site construction assembly and project costs and is implemented in a wide array of sector projects across the board. This has been affected by multiple challenges, including the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the firm is steadfast in maintaining its quality service while adhering to all necessary safeguarding measures to reduce the potential spread of the virus. As a key branch of the overarching company, Meinhardt-Bonacci are a specialist structural, civil, and façade engineering firm that commit themselves to producing innovative design solutions to meet the various needs of international clients since its original founding in 1981. “We now have a combined 60 plus years’ experience of service within the engineering industry,” begins John Williams, CEO of Meinhardt-Bonacci. “Both in…
JSC AK Altynalmas
Revolutionising Resource ExtractionWe caught up with JSC AK Altynalmas to discuss the company’s evolution towards full digitalisation within the mining industry in Kazakhstan Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Joshua Mann Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country. It’s bordered by a number of nations including Russia to its north, China in the east, and Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan in the south, and yet is vast enough to also border the Caspian Sea. While landlocked, the country is geographically diverse with its lands ranging from snow-capped mountains, and rolling green hills, to open steppes, rocky canyons, river deltas, and arid deserts. And with access to all of this varied land and accompanying natural resources, Kazakhstan finds itself as a key Asian contributor to the oil and gas industry through its natural gas reserves, and equally as impressive, a driver in the Asian mining industry through the vast amount of natural minerals available. Traditionally (that is to also say historically) mining has been a “hands on” industry with more focus on individual workers, manually operated machinery, and factors such as safety, sustainability, and efficiency often coming second to raw output. However, in the present, we see everything has changed. The jump between the old-school methods and modern practices is huge. Today, modern mining incorporates smarter plans, innovative ideas, and the latest technology to aid in the establishment of these once lacking business elements. We are seeing the application of digital tools in almost every area of every industrial activity, and mining is no exception. Software such as 3D mapping and CAD (computer aided design)…
PhilExport
Philippines ExportThe Philippines is renowned for its robust export industry, which is on the road to recovery after the shock of the coronavirus pandemic Writer: Dani Redd | Project Manager: Krisha Canlas With its increasing industrialisation and skilled workforce, the Philippines has one of the most dynamic economies in the East Asia Pacific Region. Between 2010 – 2019, the country’s economy has been growing at an average annual rate of 6.4 percent. Its semiconductor and manufacturing industry is the biggest economic growth driver in the Philippines, employing over three million workers directly and indirectly. The Philippines also has a robust, thriving export industry. Unsurprisingly, electronics products are the country’s top export. According to a report by the Filipino government, they accounted for 55.9 percent of total exports between January 2019 and January 2020, with total earnings of $3.23 billion. The same report also showed significant growth in other exports, in particular gold (a 46 percent growth) and other minerals (68.3 percent). However, exports of machinery and transport equipment had contracted by 35.1 percent.Despite such a robust economy, the Philippines exports industry suffered significantly during the coronavirus pandemic, in large part due to the stringent lockdowns imposed on the country to try and control cases – many companies were forced to halt production. In August 2020, exports had tumbled 18.6 percent since the previous year – the fifth consecutive month of decline.Rescue and recoveryUnderstandably, the government and organisations – including PHILEXPORT, which represents around 70 percent of the country’s export revenues – is keen to help the economy and its export industry…
The Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI)
SMEs are the backbone of Lao’s economy, and the government is aiming to reduce the obstacles that inhibit their potential.
Howden Broking Group, APAC
Howden Broking Group’s culture of embracing change and long-term focus has enabled it to pivot, innovate, and adapt to ensure its employees and clients are taken care of during a year of significant change.
FV Hospital : Combatting COVID for Vietnam
FV Hospital has been on the frontline of Vietnam’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, the organisation is adapting to a new normal and continuing to provide leading medical services to its patients.
Datamine
Stone and Software As the digital mining sphere grows, Dylan Webb discusses the success of Datamine and the newest technological innovations utilised in the regional mining industry Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Thomas Arnold When we hear the word mining we don’t always consider the digital realm that underpins the mining process. We may instead think of a gruff man hacking away at the inner wall of his cave, revealing fist-sized gems and gold. Or we envision the more modern-day scene of enormous trucks trundling down vast networks of descending roads that wind their way through hills to a central mining facility. However, the present day sees digital tools and advanced technology utilised in every area of every sector, and mining is no different. From inventory tracking software and communications to logistics and automated machinery, the sphere is being defined by digital modernisation. Indeed, the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has found that over the next five years, more than 77 percent of jobs in the country’s mining sector will be remodelled by technological innovations, increasing productivity by up to 23 percent. And this is where Datamine comes in. With its founding stretching back to 1981, the firm has supplied the mining industry with technological solutions for almost 40 years, providing its clients with the ways to bring the most innovative digital software to the field (or rather, the mine). With its headquarters based in Brisbane, Australia, Datamine is a world leading provider of mining technology and…
AJ Lucas
Dependable DrillingBrett Tredinnick, CEO of AJ Lucas, discusses how the company has built a competitive advantage in Australia’s mining sector thanks to its reputation as a reliable partner Writer: Sean Galea-Pace | Project Manager: Thomas Arnold “Drilling in Australia is relatively buoyant at the moment,” declares Brett Tredinnick, CEO of AJ Lucas (ASX: AJL). “Our coal mine centred market has shown solid demand and there is still plenty of opportunity to place rigs in the general exploration market. It’s always a challenge to continue to increase efficiency and reduce cost in a safe workspace.” Mining in Australia is one of the country’s most renowned and well-established industries. It is a key contributor to its national economy, consisting of around seven percent of total GDP. As the fourth largest mining country worldwide, after China, Russia and the United States, Australia continues to experience ongoing demand for high-tech equipment, which showcases potential opportunities for suppliers. Over the past few decades, the industry and Lucas have grown together in tandem. Founded in 1958, AJ Lucas established itself as a high-quality building sub-contractor. In the years that followed, it has utilised its engineering expertise to provide specialist, niche engineering, construction and drilling services to the key sectors of energy, water and wastewater, resources and solid project management. Based in Brisbane, Lucas possesses a fleet of 41 multi-purpose drill rigs designed specifically to service the coal market, supported by around 400 technical and administrative staff. The organisation has operations in major coal producing basins of Australia’s east coast including the Southern Coalfields, the Western Coalfield, the…
Sustainability
Singapore is a green city that thrives on diversity and technology, but it is not without its environmental issues.
Four Steps to Solidify Legacy IT for the Digital Future
Capgemini’s Gopalakrishnan Krishnamurthi offers his advice to companies looking to embrace an optimised IT future.
Private Jet Travel
Since the COVID-19 pandemic has sent commercial airlines into freefall, private jets have increased in popularity – we take a closer look.
Leadership: Mining
De-risking mining investmentsThe need for technical due diligence when evaluating mining asset acquisition. Tarrant Elkington, Global Manager of Snowden Group, explores some of the key questions that need to be answered before committing to the acquisition of a mining assetWritten by: Tarrant Elkington, Global Manager, Snowden GroupAn investment to purchase another mining project, operation or company is often a make or break item for mining executives and investors. Buyer’s remorse has led to the demise of many a CEO or MD. Of course, hindsight is a great thing to have. But could such mistakes have been avoided with proper due diligence prior to the investment decision?Every mining operation and company is different, and the material items will vary according to commodity, location, environment, governmental and social factors. These should be considered by appropriately experienced professionals against each discipline. There is a myriad of questions to ask. However, with such a large number of questions, it is possible to lose perspective of the most important questions. Here are some to get you started: Is there adequate support for the mining inventory included in the financial model?Does the mining inventory include a majority of Inferred Resources, or even worse only “Target Mineralisation”? (sometimes referred to as “Blue Sky”). If so, there is a high degree of resource risk and you should ensure that you are happy for it to be included in the valuation? Do the resources the inventory is based upon have sufficient evidence of the quantity and quality i.e. is the drilling of appropriate quality and has it been conveyed…